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Compensation transparency and managerial opportunism: a study of supplemental retirement plans

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  • Paul Kalyta

Abstract

Existing research on managerial compensation is based primarily on optimal contracting and managerial hegemony theories. Under the optimal contracting theory, observed compensation contracts are optimally determined, aligning the interests of managers and shareholders. Under the managerial hegemony theory, observed compensation contracts deviate from the optimum because top managers with power over boards are able to influence their own pay. I argue that the impact of managerial power over boards on managerial pay, and hence the deviation of compensation contracts from the optimum, is contingent on the transparency of managerial compensation. Within this framework, I investigate the impact of supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPs)— historically the least transparent compensation component— on opportunistic decision making. An empirical analysis based on a time series sample of CEOs of S&P/TSX60 firms provides support of the compensation transparency theory. I find that SERP benefits are primarily driven by variables proxying for CEO power over the board, whereas more transparent compensation components are primarily driven by economic factors. The results also suggest that CEOs whose SERPs are contingent on firm performance appear to reduce firm R&D expenditures as they approach retirement. Both findings provide important contributions to existing research on the impact of managerial compensation on opportunistic decisions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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  • Paul Kalyta, 2009. "Compensation transparency and managerial opportunism: a study of supplemental retirement plans," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 405-423, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:stratm:v:30:y:2009:i:4:p:405-423
    DOI: 10.1002/smj.737
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    Cited by:

    1. Brei, Michael & Ferri, Giovanni & Gambacorta, Leonardo, 2023. "Financial structure and income inequality," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    2. Fang Shuai, 2019. "Homophily Exclusion or Homophily Preference? The Influence of the Executive Identity of Nonexecutive Directors on the Focal Firm Executive Pay and Ordinary Employee Pay," Journal of Systems Science and Information, De Gruyter, vol. 7(6), pages 550-567, December.
    3. Krishnan Nair & Waqas Haque & Steve Sauerwald, 2022. "It’s Not What You Say, But How You Sound: CEO Vocal Masculinity and the Board's Early‐Stage CEO Compensation Decisions," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(5), pages 1227-1252, July.
    4. Elena Merino & Montserrat Manzaneque-Lizano & Jesus Sanchez-Araque, 2019. "Sustainability and Corporate Governance: Transparency and Excessive Directors’ Remuneration in Listed Companies during the Global Financial Crisis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Gao(高凯), Kai & Wang(王玲), Ling & Liu(刘婷婷), Tingting & Zhao(赵华擎), Huaqing, 2022. "Management executive power and corporate green innovation——Empirical evidence from China's state-owned manufacturing sector," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    6. Sanjukta Brahma & Fotini Economou, 2024. "CEO power and corporate strategies: a review of the literature," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 62(3), pages 1069-1143, April.
    7. Andy C. L. Yeung & Chris K. Y. Lo & T. C. E. Cheng, 2011. "Behind the Iron Cage: An Institutional Perspective on ISO 9000 Adoption and CEO Compensation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(6), pages 1600-1612, December.
    8. James, Hui L. & Benson, Bradley W. & Park, Jung Chul, 2020. "CEO fixed effects and inside debt compensation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 71-86.
    9. Christopher Kurzhals & Lorenz Graf‐Vlachy & Andreas König, 2020. "Strategic leadership and technological innovation: A comprehensive review and research agenda," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(6), pages 437-464, November.
    10. Michelon, Giovanna, 2021. "Accounting research boundaries, multiple centers and academic empathy," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    11. Steve Sauerwald & Zhiang (John) Lin & Mike W. Peng, 2016. "Board social capital and excess CEO returns," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(3), pages 498-520, March.
    12. Wang, Kun Tracy & Kartika, Fiki & Wang, Wanbin Walter & Luo, Guqiang, 2021. "Corporate social responsibility, investor protection, and the cost of equity: Evidence from East Asia," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    13. Brian Cadman & Linda Vincent, 2015. "The Role of Defined Benefit Pension Plans in Executive Compensation," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(4), pages 779-800, December.
    14. Egor Evdokimov & Dean Hanlon & Edwin KiaYang Lim, 2022. "Do Generalist CEOs Magnify Boardroom Backscratching?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(1), pages 221-247, November.
    15. Kabir, Rezaul & Li, Hao & Veld-Merkoulova, Yulia, 2018. "Do managers act opportunistically towards the end of their career?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 218-232.

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