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Managerial Risk-Taking Behavior and Equity-Based Compensation

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  • Low, Angie

    (Ohio State U and Nanyang Technological U)

Abstract

I study managers' risk-taking behavior and how it is affected by equity-based compensation. I find that in response to an exogenous increase in takeover protection in Delaware during the mid-1990s, managers lower firm risk by 5%. I also find that the decrease in firm risk is concentrated among firms with low managerial equity-based incentives. In particular, firms with low CEO portfolio sensitivity to stock return volatility experience more than 10% reduction in risk. Further, firms respond to the increased protection accorded by the regime shift with greater incentives for risk-taking.

Suggested Citation

  • Low, Angie, 2006. "Managerial Risk-Taking Behavior and Equity-Based Compensation," Working Paper Series 2006-20, Ohio State University, Charles A. Dice Center for Research in Financial Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:ohidic:2006-20
    as

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    File URL: http://www.cob.ohio-state.edu/fin/dice/papers/2006/2006-20.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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