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CEO Behavior and Firm Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Prat, Andrea
  • Hansen, Stephen
  • Sadun, Raffaella
  • Bandiera, Oriana

Abstract

We measure the behavior of 1,114 CEOs in Brazil, France, Germany, India, UK and US using a new methodology that combines (i) data on every activity the CEOs undertake during one workweek and (ii) a machine learning algorithm that projects these data onto scalar CEO behavior indices. Low values of the index are associated with plant visits, and one-on-one meetings with production or suppliers, while high values correlate with meetings with high-level C-suite executives, and several functions together, both from inside and outside the firm. We use these data to study the correlation between CEO behavior and firm performance within the framework of a firm-CEO assignment model. We show results consistent with significant firm-CEO assignment frictions, which appear to be more severe in lower-income regions. The productivity loss generated by inefficient assignment is equal to 13% of the productivity gap between high- and low-income countries in our sample.

Suggested Citation

  • Prat, Andrea & Hansen, Stephen & Sadun, Raffaella & Bandiera, Oriana, 2017. "CEO Behavior and Firm Performance," CEPR Discussion Papers 11960, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:11960
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ceo; Leadership; Unsupervised learning;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity

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