Incentives, Reputation and the Allocation of Authority

Florian Englmaier, Ales Filipi and Ravi Singh

Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems from Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Bonn, University of Mannheim, University of Munich

Abstract: We address the question how much authority a principal should delegate to a manager with conflicting interests and uncertain ability in a context in which the manager has both compensationbased and reputational incentives. The optimal level of authority balances the value of the manager’s decision-making expertise against the cost of ensuring that the manager uses his discretion productively. Reputational incentives reduce the necessary monetary incentives to discourage purely opportunistic behavior, but may cause the manager to pursue conservative courses of action to preserve his reputation. This undermines the benefits of delegating control, leading to decreased managerial authority and stronger monetary incentives. When the principal can commit to long-term contracts, she eliminates this conservative bias by rewarding a successful manager with greater future compensation and authority than would be optimal in a static setting. Early in the relationship the principal may delegate additional authority in order to screen for managers of high ability.

Keywords: Agency Problems; Delegation; Compensation Contracts; Job Design; Career Concerns; Managerial Conservatism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D86 L14 L23 M52 M54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-07
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Incentives, reputation and the allocation of authority (2010)
Working Paper: Incentives, Reputation and the Allocation of Authority (2010)
Working Paper: Incentives, Reputation and the Allocation of Authority (2010)
Working Paper: Incentives, reputation and the allocation of authority (2010)
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