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The Value of Correlated Signals in Agencies

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  • Madhav V. Rajan
  • Bharat Sarath

Abstract

We analyze optimal correlation levels in information technologies when multiple signals are available as contracting mechanisms within the principal-agent paradigm. We identify sufficient conditions ensuring that uniformly lower-correlation functions (in action levels) are preferred, as well as (mutually disjoint) sufficient conditions for a higher-correlation function to be preferred. We also show that if correlation levels are invariant in the agent's action choice, the preference is for negative correlation, but not perfectly negative correlation. We generalize techniques originally used for proving Blackwell's theorem and show that our results extend to the decision context as well.

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  • Madhav V. Rajan & Bharat Sarath, 1997. "The Value of Correlated Signals in Agencies," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 28(1), pages 150-167, Spring.
    • Handle: RePEc:rje:randje:v:28:y:1997:i:spring:p:150-167
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    Cited by:

    1. Anil Arya & Brian Mittendorf, 2011. "The Benefits of Aggregate Performance Metrics in the Presence of Career Concerns," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 57(8), pages 1424-1437, August.
    2. Madhav V. Rajan & Stefan Reichelstein, 2006. "Subjective Performance Indicators and Discretionary Bonus Pools," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(3), pages 585-618, June.
    3. Marie-Cécile Fagart & Bernard Sinclair-Desgagné, 2007. "Ranking Contingent Monitoring Systems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 53(9), pages 1501-1509, September.
    4. Peter O. Christensen & Gerald A. Feltham & Christian Hofmann & Florin Sabac, 2022. "Timeliness, Accuracy, and Relevance in Dynamic Incentive Contracts," Foundations and Trends(R) in Accounting, now publishers, vol. 17(1), pages 1-76, October.
    5. Cho, Myeonghwan & Jun, Byung-hill, 2013. "Information sharing with competition," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 119(1), pages 81-84.
    6. Lambert, Richard A., 2001. "Contracting theory and accounting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1-3), pages 3-87, December.
    7. Christensen, Peter O. & Feltham, Gerald A. & Sabac, Florin, 2005. "A contracting perspective on earnings quality," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 265-294, June.

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