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Family firms and the incentive contracting role of accounting earnings

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  • Yu-Lin Chen
  • Chao-Jung Chen

Abstract

We investigate how family controls affect the sensitivity of the variable pay of top management to the firm's accounting-based performance (PPS) in order to deal with both the traditional agency problem between owners and managers, and the central agency problem between controlling and minority shareholders. Using five-year data from Taiwan-listed firms, our results show that PPS is stronger for both non-family managers employed by family firms, and family managers, and is weakest for managers in non-family firms. Additionally, PPS is more pronounced in family firms with potential central agency problems, when the CEO is not a family member than when the CEO is.

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  • Yu-Lin Chen & Chao-Jung Chen, 2015. "Family firms and the incentive contracting role of accounting earnings," Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(4), pages 384-405, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:raaexx:v:22:y:2015:i:4:p:384-405
    DOI: 10.1080/16081625.2014.995769
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    2. Chih-Yang Tseng, 2020. "Family firms and long-term orientation of SG&A expenditures," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 1181-1206, November.

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