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Board of director compensation in China: To pay or not to pay? How much to pay?

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  • Chen, Zonghao
  • Keefe, Michael O’Connor

Abstract

Over the period 2005 through 2015, we find that director compensation in Chinese listed firms is influenced by both director characteristics and ownership structure. We measure director compensation by both the propensity to be paid and the level of compensation. For independent directors, we find that director busyness, tenure, and ownership concentration positively influence and state-ownership negatively influences director compensation. For non-independent directors, we find that tenure positively influences and that both state-ownership and related directors negatively influence director compensation. Lastly, our evidence suggests that women directors in China are not underpaid.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Zonghao & Keefe, Michael O’Connor, 2018. "Board of director compensation in China: To pay or not to pay? How much to pay?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 66-82.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:37:y:2018:i:c:p:66-82
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2018.05.003
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    2. Chen, Zonghao & Keefe, Michael O'Connor, 2020. "Rookie directors and firm performance: Evidence from China11We thank William L Megginson (the editor), two anonymous referees, Graeme Guthrie, Heng Geng, Adrian Cheung and seminar participants at the ," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    3. Fernando Núñez & Ángel Arcos-Vargas & Carlos Usabiaga & Pablo Álvarez-de-Toledo, 2022. "On directors’ compensation: a multilevel analysis of Spanish listed companies," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(4), pages 2173-2207, October.
    4. Nguyen, Thi Hong Hanh & Ntim, Collins G. & Malagila, John K., 2020. "Women on corporate boards and corporate financial and non-financial performance: A systematic literature review and future research agenda," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    5. Chen, Zonghao & Keefe, Michael O'Connor & Watts, Jameson K.M., 2020. "Board of director compensation in China: It pays to be connected," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Director compensation; Director characteristics; Ownership structure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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