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Implicit Contracts, Managerial Incentives, and Financial Structure

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  • Roberta Dessí

Abstract

This paper examines how managers may be given incentives to exert effort, and to implement efficient implicit contracts with workers. Under certain assumptions, this can be achieved by tying managerial compensation to shareholder value. However, if reputation effects are weak, it is more efficient to adopt an incentive scheme in which the manager is punished by outside investor intervention when performance falls below a critical level, and otherwise retains control, receiving a fixed reward. The required form of outside intervention can be implemented through a financial structure combining hard debt with a dispersed ownership structure.

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  • Roberta Dessí, 2001. "Implicit Contracts, Managerial Incentives, and Financial Structure," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(3), pages 359-390, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jemstr:v:10:y:2001:i:3:p:359-390
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1430-9134.2001.00359.x
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    2. Hongyang He & Bin Zhang, 2022. "Effective Synergy of Market Agents: The Core of Achieving Multi-Agent Governance on the Internet Platform," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Calcagno, R. & Renneboog, L.D.R., 2004. "Capital Structure and Managerial Compensation : The Effects of Renumeration Seniority," Other publications TiSEM 509b3b8c-a04b-42c3-8991-e, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    4. Erlend Nier, 1998. "Managers, Debt and Industry Equilibrium," FMG Discussion Papers dp289, Financial Markets Group.
    5. Calcagno, R. & Renneboog, L.D.R., 2004. "Capital Structure and Managerial Compensation : The Effects of Remuneration Seniority," Discussion Paper 2004-015, Tilburg University, Tilburg Law and Economic Center.
    6. Ruhnke, Carsten S., 2022. "Implications of the Creditors' Influence on Corporate Decisions," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 7(1), pages 150-184.
    7. Nier, Erlend, 1998. "Managers, debt and industry equilibrium," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 119152, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts

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