IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecosys/v48y2024i1s0939362523001103.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effects of option incentive compensation on corporate innovation: The case of China

Author

Listed:
  • Cheng, Rui
  • Frijns, Bart
  • Kim, Hyeongjun
  • Ryu, Doojin

Abstract

This study examines the effect of option incentives on corporate innovation in a representative emerging and transitioning economy. Using data from China, we show that option incentives have significant positive impacts on two crucial aspects of innovation: inputs and outputs. Innovation efficiency consistently improves after the introduction of option incentives. These positive effects remain when we control for potential endogeneity using difference-in-differences estimation with propensity score matching. Option incentives have more pronounced effects in high-tech firms than in other firms. Our findings suggest that firms’ specific characteristics and needs should be considered when developing incentive policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng, Rui & Frijns, Bart & Kim, Hyeongjun & Ryu, Doojin, 2024. "Effects of option incentive compensation on corporate innovation: The case of China," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 48(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecosys:v:48:y:2024:i:1:s0939362523001103
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecosys.2023.101171
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0939362523001103
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ecosys.2023.101171?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nam, Hyun-Jung & Bang, Jeongseok & Ryu, Doojin, 2023. "Do financial and governmental institutions play a mediating role in the spillover effects of FDI?," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    2. Hong, Jin & Feng, Bing & Wu, Yanrui & Wang, Liangbing, 2016. "Do government grants promote innovation efficiency in China's high-tech industries?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 57, pages 4-13.
    3. Gustavo Manso, 2011. "Motivating Innovation," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 66(5), pages 1823-1860, October.
    4. Heitzman, Shane, 2011. "Equity grants to target CEOs during deal negotiations," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(2), pages 251-271.
    5. Chen, Jing & Han, Qian & Ryu, Doojin & Tang, Jing, 2022. "Does the world smile together? A network analysis of global index option implied volatilities," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    6. Chung, Hae Jin & Jhang, Hogyu & Ryu, Doojin, 2023. "Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on corporate cash holdings: Evidence from Korea," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    7. Eunmo YANG & Hojoong BAE & Doojin RYU, 2022. "What Makes the Level of Particulate Matter Emissions Worse in Korea?," Journal for Economic Forecasting, Institute for Economic Forecasting, vol. 0(3), pages 128-143, October.
    8. Doojin Ryu & Robert I. Webb & Jinyoung Yu, 2023. "Who pays the liquidity cost? Central bank announcements and adverse selection," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(7), pages 904-924, July.
    9. Song, Joonhyuk & Ryu, Doojin, 2016. "Credit cycle and balancing the capital gap: Evidence from Korea," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 595-611.
    10. Nam, Hyun-Jung & Bang, Jeongseok & Ryu, Doojin, 2023. "Paradox of trade openness: The moderated mediating role of governance," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    11. Liu, Shiyuan & Du, Jiang & Zhang, Weike & Tian, Xiaoli & Kou, Gang, 2021. "Innovation quantity or quality? The role of political connections," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    12. Vivian W. Fang & Xuan Tian & Sheri Tice, 2014. "Does Stock Liquidity Enhance or Impede Firm Innovation?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 69(5), pages 2085-2125, October.
    13. William Crown, 2014. "Propensity-Score Matching in Economic Analyses: Comparison with Regression Models, Instrumental Variables, Residual Inclusion, Differences-in-Differences, and Decomposition Methods," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 7-18, February.
    14. Xie, Luqun & Zhou, Jieyu & Zong, Qingqing & Lu, Qian, 2020. "Gender diversity in R&D teams and innovation efficiency: Role of the innovation context," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(1).
    15. Hazarika, Sonali & Karpoff, Jonathan M. & Nahata, Rajarishi, 2012. "Internal corporate governance, CEO turnover, and earnings management," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(1), pages 44-69.
    16. Biggerstaff, Lee & Blank, Brian & Goldie, Brad, 2019. "Do incentives work? Option-based compensation and corporate innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 415-430.
    17. Lu, Jun & Wang, Wei, 2018. "Managerial conservatism, board independence and corporate innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 1-16.
    18. Yael V. Hochberg & Laura Lindsey, 2010. "Incentives, Targeting, and Firm Performance: An Analysis of Non-executive Stock Options," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 23(11), pages 4148-4186, November.
    19. Zhang, Dongyang, 2023. "Can digital finance empowerment reduce extreme ESG hypocrisy resistance to improve green innovation?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    20. Himmelberg, Charles P. & Hubbard, R. Glenn & Palia, Darius, 1999. "Understanding the determinants of managerial ownership and the link between ownership and performance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 353-384, September.
    21. Ryu, Doojin & Webb, Robert I. & Yu, Jinyoung, 2022. "Foreign institutions and the behavior of liquidity following macroeconomic announcements," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    22. Doowon Ryu & Doojin Ryu & Joon Ho Hwang, 2017. "Corporate governance, product-market competition, and stock returns: evidence from the Korean market," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 16(1), pages 50-91, April.
    23. Chava, Sudheer & Purnanandam, Amiyatosh, 2010. "CEOs versus CFOs: Incentives and corporate policies," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 263-278, August.
    24. Daniel A. Bens & Venky Nagar & M. H. Franco Wong, 2002. "Real Investment Implications of Employee Stock Option Exercises," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(2), pages 359-393, May.
    25. Fedyunina, Anna & Radosevic, Slavo, 2022. "The relationship between R&D, innovation and productivity in emerging economies: CDM model and alternatives," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(3).
    26. Heckman, James, 2013. "Sample selection bias as a specification error," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 31(3), pages 129-137.
    27. Coles, Jeffrey L. & Daniel, Naveen D. & Naveen, Lalitha, 2006. "Managerial incentives and risk-taking," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(2), pages 431-468, February.
    28. Xingguo Luo & Wenye Cai & Doojin Ryu, 2022. "Information contents of intraday SSE 50 ETF options trades," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(4), pages 580-604, April.
    29. Zheng, Mingbo & Feng, Gen-Fu & Wang, Quan-Jing & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2023. "Financial globalization and technological innovation: International evidence," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(1).
    30. François Derrien & Ambrus Kecskés & Phuong-Anh Nguyen, 2023. "Labor Force Demographics and Corporate Innovation," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 36(7), pages 2797-2838.
    31. Tu Nguyen, 2018. "CEO Incentives and Corporate Innovation," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 53(2), pages 255-300, May.
    32. Pang, Caiji & Wang, Ying, 2020. "Stock pledge, risk of losing control and corporate innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    33. Jacobson, Robert & Aaker, David, 1993. "Myopic management behavior with efficient, but imperfect, financial markets : A comparison of information asymmetries in the U.S. and Japan," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 383-405, October.
    34. Kim, Karam & Ryu, Doojin & Yu, Jinyoung, 2021. "Do sentiment trades explain investor overconfidence around analyst recommendation revisions?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    35. Seru, Amit, 2014. "Firm boundaries matter: Evidence from conglomerates and R&D activity," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(2), pages 381-405.
    36. Armstrong, Christopher S. & Vashishtha, Rahul, 2012. "Executive stock options, differential risk-taking incentives, and firm value," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(1), pages 70-88.
    37. Moghaddam, Ehsan Noorzad & Aliahmadi, Alireza & Bagherzadeh, Mehdi & Markovic, Stefan & Micevski, Milena & Saghafi, Fatemeh, 2023. "Let me choose what I want: The influence of incentive choice flexibility on the quality of crowdsourcing solutions to innovation problems," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    38. Zhou, Bing & Li, Yu-meng & Sun, Fang-cheng & Zhou, Zhong-guo, 2021. "Executive compensation incentives, risk level and corporate innovation," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    39. Martin Falk, 2012. "Quantile estimates of the impact of R&D intensity on firm performance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 19-37, July.
    40. Gao, Wenlian & Chou, Julia, 2015. "Innovation efficiency, global diversification, and firm value," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 278-298.
    41. Sunder, Jayanthi & Sunder, Shyam V. & Zhang, Jingjing, 2017. "Pilot CEOs and corporate innovation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(1), pages 209-224.
    42. Hall, Bronwyn H & Ziedonis, Rosemarie Ham, 2001. "The Patent Paradox Revisited: An Empirical Study of Patenting in the U.S. Semiconductor Industry, 1979-1995," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 32(1), pages 101-128, Spring.
    43. Zhang, Dongyang, 2023. "Can environmental monitoring power transition curb corporate greenwashing behavior?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 199-218.
    44. Yano, Go & Shiraishi, Maho, 2020. "Finance, institutions, and innovation activities in China," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 44(4).
    45. Koyin Chang & John Garen, 2004. "Residual income claimancy, monitoring, and the R&D firm: Theory with application to biotechs," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(8), pages 489-507.
    46. Balsam, Steven & Miharjo, Setiyono, 2007. "The effect of equity compensation on voluntary executive turnover," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 95-119, March.
    47. Ryu, Doowon, 2022. "Product market competition and business groups in Korea," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PA).
    48. Chang, Xin & Fu, Kangkang & Low, Angie & Zhang, Wenrui, 2015. "Non-executive employee stock options and corporate innovation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(1), pages 168-188.
    49. Kondo, Masayuki, 1999. "R&D dynamics of creating patents in the Japanese industry," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 587-600, August.
    50. Jinyoung Yu & Doojin Ryu, 2021. "Effectiveness Of The Basel Iii Framework: Procyclicality In The Banking Sector And Macroeconomic Fluctuations," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 66(03), pages 855-879, June.
    51. Bang, Jeongseok & Ryu, Doojin & Yu, Jinyoung, 2023. "ESG controversies and investor trading behavior in the Korean market," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    52. Ham, Hyuna & Ryu, Doojin & Webb, Robert I. & Yu, Jinyoung, 2023. "How do investors react to overnight returns? Evidence from Korea," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    53. Nam, Hyun-Jung & Ryu, Doojin, 2023. "FDI and human development: The role of governance, ODA, and national competitiveness," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    54. Chun, Dohyun & Cho, Hoon & Ryu, Doojin, 2020. "Economic indicators and stock market volatility in an emerging economy," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 44(2).
    55. Fang, Hongyan & Nofsinger, John R. & Quan, Juan, 2015. "The effects of employee stock option plans on operating performance in Chinese firms," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 141-159.
    56. Kim, Karam & Ryu, Doojin & Yang, Heejin, 2021. "Information uncertainty, investor sentiment, and analyst reports," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    57. Hsu, Po-Hsuan & Tian, Xuan & Xu, Yan, 2014. "Financial development and innovation: Cross-country evidence," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(1), pages 116-135.
    58. Mao, Connie X. & Zhang, Chi, 2018. "Managerial Risk-Taking Incentive and Firm Innovation: Evidence from FAS 123R," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 53(2), pages 867-898, April.
    59. Chkir, Imed & El Haj Hassan, Boushra & Rjiba, Hatem & Saadi, Samir, 2021. "Does corporate social responsibility influence corporate innovation? International evidence," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    60. Yenn-Ru Chen & Carl R. Chen & Chih-Kang Chu, 2014. "The Effect of Executive Stock Options on Corporate Innovative Activities," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 43(2), pages 271-290, June.
    61. Azari, Mehdi & Kim, Hakkon & Kim, Jun Yeup & Ryu, Doojin, 2016. "The effect of agglomeration on the productivity of urban manufacturing sectors in a leading emerging economy," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 422-432.
    62. Lin, Chen & Lin, Ping & Song, Frank M. & Li, Chuntao, 2011. "Managerial incentives, CEO characteristics and corporate innovation in China's private sector," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 176-190, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Amin, Md Ruhul & Wang, Xinyu & Aktas, Elvan, 2023. "Does oil price uncertainty affect corporate innovation?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    2. Li, Tao & Wang, Yan, 2022. "Corporate responsibility towards employees and innovation: Evidence from an emerging market," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    3. Chen, Jie & Leung, Woon Sau & Evans, Kevin P., 2016. "Are employee-friendly workplaces conducive to innovation?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 61-79.
    4. Ren, Shenggang & Cheng, Yingmei & Hu, Yucai & Yin, Chao, 2021. "Feeling right at home: Hometown CEOs and firm innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    5. Wu, Junfeng & Liu, Baohua & Zeng, Yongliang & Luo, Hong, 2022. "Good for the firm, good for the society? Causal evidence of the impact of equity incentives on a firm's green investment," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 435-449.
    6. Cui, Xin & Wang, Chunfeng & Liao, Jing & Fang, Zhenming & Cheng, Feiyang, 2021. "Economic policy uncertainty exposure and corporate innovation investment: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    7. Kim, Karam & Ryu, Doojin & Yu, Jinyoung, 2024. "Star analyst activities and stock price synchronicity: Korean equity market reforms," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    8. Hsu, Yuan-Teng & Huang, Chia-Wei & Koedijk, Kees G., 2023. "Unintended consequences of compensation peer groups on corporate innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    9. Zhang, Ping & Wang, Yiru & Gao, Jieying, 2023. "Going public and innovation: Evidence from the ChiNext stock market," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 586-613.
    10. Yang, Huan, 2021. "Institutional dual holdings and risk-shifting: Evidence from corporate innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    11. Chung, Hae Jin & Jhang, Hogyu & Ryu, Doojin, 2023. "Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on corporate cash holdings: Evidence from Korea," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    12. Biggerstaff, Lee & Blank, Brian & Goldie, Brad, 2019. "Do incentives work? Option-based compensation and corporate innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 415-430.
    13. Olson, Adam J. & Yust, Christopher G. & Christensen, Brant E., 2023. "Are public health policies associated with corporate innovation? Evidence from U.S. nonsmoking laws," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(10).
    14. Byun, SeongK. & Fuller, Kathleen & Lin, Zhilu, 2021. "The costs and benefits associated with inventor CEOs," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    15. Yongqiang Chu & Xuan Tian & Wenyu Wang, 2019. "Corporate Innovation Along the Supply Chain," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(6), pages 2445-2466, June.
    16. Lou, Zhukun & Wang, Chong & Liu, Yaxin & Xu, Jing, 2023. "It takes two to tango: Impact of salary co-movement between top executives and ordinary employees on corporate innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).
    17. Wang, Jialong & Zhang, Jian & Huang, Haoyue & Zhang, Fan, 2020. "Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and firm innovation," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 414-426.
    18. Daniel Shapiro & Yao Tang & Miaojun Wang & Weiying Zhang, 2017. "Monetary incentives and innovation in Chinese SMEs," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 16(3), pages 130-157, July.
    19. Chu, Yongqiang & Liu, Ming & Ma, Tao & Li, Xinming, 2020. "Executive compensation and corporate risk-taking: Evidence from private loan contracts," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    20. Abdoh, Hussein & Liu, Yu, 2021. "Does R&D intensity matter in the executive risk incentives and firm risk relationship?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 13-24.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Compensation structure; Corporate innovation; Chinese market; Option incentives; R&D;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecosys:v:48:y:2024:i:1:s0939362523001103. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/osteide.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.