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Role of Information Rents in Relational Contracts

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  • Akifumi Ishihara

Abstract

We study a repeated contracting model in which the agent has private information and the performance measure is unverifiable. In an optimal stationary contract, when the discount factor is not high, the principal's objective shifts from purely reducing the information rent toward increasing the total surplus to sustain the relational contract. As a result, the total surplus is not monotonically increasing in the discount factor and could decrease when the unverifiable performance measure becomes verifiable.

Suggested Citation

  • Akifumi Ishihara, 2016. "Role of Information Rents in Relational Contracts," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(4), pages 936-957, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jemstr:v:25:y:2016:i:4:p:936-957
    DOI: 10.1111/jems.12168
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. David Martimort & Aggey Semenov & Lars Stole, 2017. "A Theory of Contracts with Limited Enforcement," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 84(2), pages 816-852.

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