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Is your surname remunerative? Surname favorability and CEO compensation

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  • Jung, Jay Heon
  • Lim, Sonya S.
  • Park, Jongwon

Abstract

We find that CEOs with more favorable surnames receive significantly higher compensation. The estimated effect of surname favorability is unique and incremental to the documented effects of various firm, board, and CEO characteristics. CEOs with French or German surnames receive significantly lower compensation after the French and German governments' opposition to the Iraq war. Surname favorability is not associated with corporate investments, disclosure policies, or firm performances. The results are more pronounced for professional (i.e., non-founder) or short-tenured CEOs and for firms with lower institutional ownership. Surname favorability reduces the likelihood of forced CEO turnover following poor stock performance but is not associated with a CEO's self-serving behaviors. Our results suggest that the effect of surname favorability is attributable to inefficient contracting by the board of directors. Our findings have implications for corporate stakeholders who have committed to the efficient contracting of CEO compensations.

Suggested Citation

  • Jung, Jay Heon & Lim, Sonya S. & Park, Jongwon, 2023. "Is your surname remunerative? Surname favorability and CEO compensation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:83:y:2023:i:c:s0929119923001232
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2023.102474
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    1. Yan, Chao & He, Yuchun & Zhang, Ziyi, 2024. "Do CEOs with new compound surnames have better ESG performance? Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 724-740.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    CEO compensation; Surname favorability; Board of directors;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation

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