Understanding mergers and acquisitions in the 21st century: a multidisciplinary approach

List of Tables List of Figures Acknowledgements Notes on Contributors Introduction-- K.J.McCarthy & W.Dolfsma PART I: SETTING THE SCENE A Perspective from Economics and Law The Business Environment Mergers and Merger Waves: A Century of Cause and Effect-- K.J.McCarthy The Legal Environment The Same But Different? A Comparison of The Regulatory Regimes of 21st Century Europe, the US, and China-- O.J.McCarthy PART II: EXPLAINING M&A PERFORMANCE A Perspective from Economics and Business Firm Size When Bigger Isn't Always Better: A Study of Mergers and Acqusitions by Small and Medium Enterprises-- U.Weitzel & K.J.McCarthy Merger Motives Merger Motives and the Realisation of Gains-- K.J.McCarthy & U.Weitzel Shareholder Optimism Shareholders' Expectations, Aspiration Levels, and Mergers-- E.Diecidue, J.van de Van & U.Weitzel A Perspective from Psychology and Sociology Culture Managing Culture in International Mergers and Acquisitions Christine Coisne Managerial Power Power, and the Destruction of Value in Mergers and Acquisitions-- C.Ashton-James, K.J.McCarthy & A.Dranca-Iacoban Personality Mergers as Marriages: Using Attachment Theory to Understand Mergers and Acquisitions-- B.Petkova & K.J.McCarthy PART III: MOVING FORWARD A Perspective from Computer Science A View to the Future A Data-Driven Approach to Mergers and Acquisitions-- A.D.Pietersma & K.J.McCarthy