Corporate Governance and Risk Taking in Pension Plans: Evidence from Defined Benefit Asset Allocations

Hieu V. Phan and Shantaram P. Hegde

Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 2013, vol. 48, issue 3, 919-946

Abstract: Based on theoretical advice and empirical evidence suggesting that risk taking in asset allocation enhances pension returns, we evaluate empirically whether good corporate governance leads to a larger allocation of pension assets to risky securities as compared to safe investments. Our findings suggest that firms with good external and internal corporate governance take more risk by investing heavily in equities and allocating a smaller share of the plan assets to cash, government debt, and insurance company accounts. The main underlying mechanisms appear to be higher investment returns and better pension funding status associated with higher equity and lower safe asset allocations.

Date: 2013
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