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Moral Hazard

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  • Francesco Squintani

Abstract

When a principal and an agent operate with simple contracts, at equilibrium, renegotiation will occur after the action is taken. Also, since renegotiation makes incentive contracts non-credible, the principal may prefer non-renegotiable monitoring options. Current literature does not fully reconcile these predictions with the observation of simple non-renegotiated incentive contracts. We model a principal-agent interaction in a social learning framework, and assume that when renegotiation is not observed, players may forget its feasibility, with infinitesimal probability. The unique stable state of our model predicts that the second-best simple incentive contracts occur with non-negligible positive frequency.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Squintani, 1999. "Moral Hazard," Discussion Papers 1269, Northwestern University, Center for Mathematical Studies in Economics and Management Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:nwu:cmsems:1269
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Rehn, Eric, 2007. "Public Hospitals - Incentives and Organization," Working Papers 2007:13, Lund University, Department of Economics, revised 01 Apr 2008.
    3. Jonathan Gruber, 2008. "Covering the Uninsured in the U.S," NBER Working Papers 13758, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Crown William H. & Berndt Ernst R. & Baser Onur & Finkelstein Stan N. & Witt Whitney P. & Maguire Jonathan & Haver Kenan E., 2004. "Benefit Plan Design and Prescription Drug Utilization Among Asthmatics: Do Patient Copayments Matter?," Forum for Health Economics & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 7(1), pages 1-35, January.
    5. Sherry Glied & Kathrine Jack, 2003. "Macroeconomic Conditions, Health Care Costs, and the Distribution of Health Insurance," NBER Working Papers 10029, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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