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Parent-subsidiary dispersion and executive excess perks consumption

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  • Li, Bin
  • Yao, Yao
  • Shahab, Yasir
  • Li, Hai-Xia
  • Ntim, Collins G.

Abstract

We investigate the impact of parent-subsidiary dispersion on the corporate executives' excess perks consumption using comprehensive data of 1784 Chinese listed firms over the 2003–2017 period (i.e., total firm-year observations of 24,976). We argue that firms with greater geographic and institutional environment dispersion are subject to an acute information asymmetry problem, which makes it difficult and costly for shareholders and the public to monitor managerial actions and hence, facilitates managers to consume perks excessively. Consistent with this assertion, we find a positive relationship between parent-subsidiary company dispersion and executives' excess perks consumption. These patterns are not likely to be driven by the firms' endogenous choice and remain robust to various proxies for parent-subsidiary dispersion and executives' excess perks consumption. In addition, our results also show that firms with a greater dispersion between parent and subsidiary companies have higher investor recognition. However, investor recognition does not appear to negatively impact the rate of executives' excess perks consumption, which may explain why executives' excess perks consumption is not mitigated in firms with greater parent-subsidiary dispersion.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Bin & Yao, Yao & Shahab, Yasir & Li, Hai-Xia & Ntim, Collins G., 2020. "Parent-subsidiary dispersion and executive excess perks consumption," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:70:y:2020:i:c:s1057521920301459
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2020.101501
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    Cited by:

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    3. Li, Bin & Zhao, Qizi & Shahab, Yasir & Kumar, Satish, 2023. "High-speed rail construction and labor investment efficiency: Evidence from an emerging market," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    4. Liu, Huan & Hou, Canran, 2023. "The external effect of institutional cross-ownership on excessive managerial perks," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 483-501.
    5. Chen, Kejing & Jiang, Lin & Kang, Yanling & Yang, Mo & Zhen, Jiahua, 2024. "Blockholder exit threats and excess executive perks," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 80-97.
    6. Zuo, Ying & Xu, Weidong & Li, Donghui & Fu, Wentao & Lin, Bin, 2022. "Individualism and excess perk consumption: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    7. Li, Bin & Liang, Yilan & Shahab, Yasir & Gull, Ammar Ali & Ashraf, Naeem, 2022. "Parent-subsidiary dispersion, cost of debt and debt default: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    8. Zhang, Mengtao & Li, Wenwen & Luo, Yalin & Chen, Wenchuan, 2023. "Government audit supervision, financialization, and executives' excess perks: Evidence from Chinese state-owned enterprises," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Parent-subsidiary dispersion; Corporate executives; Excess perks; Information asymmetry; Investor recognition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • 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

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