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Information space conditions for the first-order approach in agency problems

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  • Jung, Jin Yong
  • Kim, Son Ku

Abstract

When the principal is risk-neutral, the optimal contract for the agent which is derived using the first-order approach depends on the signals of the agent's effort only through the information variable (i.e., the likelihood ratio of the signals). By analyzing the principal-agent problem based on the information variable rather than the signals, we derive three new sets of conditions under which the first-order approach is justified. We show not only that they are more general than any sets of conditions in the existing literature, including Conlon's conditions in the multi-signal case and Jewitt's conditions in the one-signal case but also that they do not require the monotone likelihood ratio property (MLRP) for the density function of the signals. We also derive a set of conditions which applies when the principal is risk-averse and show that those conditions are more general than Conlon's corresponding conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jung, Jin Yong & Kim, Son Ku, 2015. "Information space conditions for the first-order approach in agency problems," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 243-279.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:160:y:2015:i:c:p:243-279
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2015.09.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jiong Gong & Ping Jiang & Xiaochuan Xing, 2018. "Compensation Convexity without Utility Restriction," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(3), pages 238-249, September.
    2. Chi, Chang Koo & Olsen, Trond E., 2018. "Relational Incentive Contracts and Performance Measurement," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 7/2018, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    3. Chaigneau, Pierre & Edmans, Alex & Gottlieb, Daniel, 2019. "The informativeness principle without the first-order approach," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 743-755.
    4. René Kirkegaard, 2020. "Microfounded Contest Design," Working Papers 2003, University of Guelph, Department of Economics and Finance.
    5. Chang Koo Chi & Kyoung Jin Choi, 2022. "A Dual Approach To Agency Problems: Existence," Working papers 2022rwp-197, Yonsei University, Yonsei Economics Research Institute.
    6. Chaigneau, Pierre & Sahuguet, Nicolas & Sinclair-Desgagné, Bernard, 2017. "Prudence and the convexity of compensation contracts," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 14-16.
    7. Hwang, Sunjoo, 2016. "Relational contracts and the first-order approach," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 126-130.
    8. Chi, Chang Koo & Choi, Kyoung Jin, 2023. "A dual approach to agency problems," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    9. Kirkegaard, René, 2017. "Moral hazard and the spanning condition without the first-order approach," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 373-387.
    10. Jung, Jin Yong, 2022. "Effects of changes in preferences in moral hazard problems," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    The principal-agent model; The first-order approach; The likelihood ratio variable;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law

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