Long Run Trends in Australian Executive Remuneration: BHP 1887-2012

Mike Pottenger () and Andrew Leigh
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Mike Pottenger: University of Melbourne

No 7486, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Outside the US, little is known of long-run trends in executive compensation. We fill this gap by studying BHP, a resources giant that has long been one of the largest companies on the Australian stock market. From 1887 to 2013, trends in CEO and director remuneration (relative to average earnings) follow a U-shape. This matches the pattern for US executive compensation, Australian top incomes, and (for the past two decades) average trends in executive compensation in top Australian firms. Like the US, Australia experienced a post-war 'great compression' prior to the recent 'great divergence'.

Keywords: income distribution; inequality; executive remuneration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D31 J31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 29 pages
Date: 2013-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cwa, nep-his, nep-hrm, nep-lab and nep-lma
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published - published in: Australian Economic History Review, 2016, 56 (1), 2-20

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Related works:
Journal Article: Long-Run Trends in Australian Executive Remuneration: BHP, 1887–2012 (2016)
Working Paper: Long run trends in Australian executive remuneration: BHP 1887-2012 (2013)
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