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Decision-facilitating information in hidden-action setups: an agent-based approach

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  • Stephan Leitner

    (University of Klagenfurt)

  • Friederike Wall

    (University of Klagenfurt)

Abstract

The hidden-action model captures a fundamental problem of principal-agent theory and provides an optimal sharing rule when only the outcome but not the effort can be observed (Holmström in Bell J Econ 10(1):74, 1979). However, the hidden-action model builds on various explicit and also implicit assumptions about the information of the contracting parties. This paper relaxes key assumptions regarding the availability of information included in the hidden-action model in order to study whether and, if so, how fast the optimal sharing rule is achieved and how this is affected by the various types of information employed in the principal-agent relation. Our analysis particularly focuses on information about the environment and about feasible actions for the agent. We follow an approach to transfer closed-form mathematical models into agent-based computational models and show that the extent of information about feasible options to carry out a task only has an impact on performance if decision makers are well informed about the environment, and that the decision whether to perform exploration or exploitation when searching for new feasible options only affects performance in specific situations. Having good information about the environment, on the contrary, appears to be crucial in almost all situations.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephan Leitner & Friederike Wall, 2021. "Decision-facilitating information in hidden-action setups: an agent-based approach," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 16(2), pages 323-358, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jeicoo:v:16:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s11403-020-00297-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11403-020-00297-z
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Darío Blanco-Fernández & Stephan Leitner & Alexandra Rausch, 2023. "Interactions between the individual and the group level in organizations: The case of learning and group turnover," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 31(4), pages 1087-1128, December.
    2. Stephan Leitner & Bartosz Gula & Dietmar Jannach & Ulrike Krieg-Holz & Friederike Wall, 2021. "Understanding the dynamics emerging from infodemics: a call to action for interdisciplinary research," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Dario Blanco-Fernandez & Stephan Leitner & Alexandra Rausch, 2022. "Interactions between the individual and the group level in organizations: The case of learning and autonomous group adaptation," Papers 2203.09162, arXiv.org.
    4. Leitner, Stephan & Wall, Friederike, 2022. "Micro-level dynamics in hidden action situations with limited information," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 372-393.
    5. Patrick Reinwald & Stephan Leitner & Friederike Wall, 2021. "Effects of limited and heterogeneous memory in hidden-action situations," Papers 2105.12469, arXiv.org.
    6. Patrick Reinwald & Stephan Leitner & Friederike Wall, 2020. "An Agent-Based Model of Delegation Relationships With Hidden-Action: On the Effects of Heterogeneous Memory on Performance," Papers 2009.07124, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2020.
    7. Patrick Reinwald & Stephan Leitner & Friederike Wall, 2021. "Limited intelligence and performance-based compensation: An agent-based model of the hidden action problem," Papers 2107.03764, arXiv.org.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Management control; Complexity economics; Agent-based simulation; Information systems; Information system sophistication; Search strategy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law

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