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Crisis, internal governance mechanisms and pension fund performance: Evidence from Poland

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  • Jackowicz, Krzysztof
  • Kowalewski, Oskar

Abstract

This study provides new insight on the impact of supervisory board structure as an internal governance mechanism on privately defined contribution pension fund performance in Poland. Using a hand-collected data set, we find evidence that the chairman, as a motivated insider, plays an important role in determining fund performance. The results also show, although with weaker evidence, that outsiders may positively impact fund performance. During the 2007–2008 crisis, however, the insider professional knowledge outweighed the benefits of having motivated outsiders on the supervisory board. Consequently, the results show that both the composition of the supervisory board and the motivation and knowledge of its members are important in explaining pension fund performance. We also find that other governance factors have no impact on fund performance. The results are a relevant contribution to the current regulatory debate on reforms of the pension fund industry in Poland, arguing that modifying the supervisory board structure and electing outsiders with professional knowledge may significantly improve its performance.

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  • Jackowicz, Krzysztof & Kowalewski, Oskar, 2012. "Crisis, internal governance mechanisms and pension fund performance: Evidence from Poland," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 493-515.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:13:y:2012:i:4:p:493-515
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2012.07.006
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jin Sug Yang & Anna Bedford & Martin Bugeja, 2023. "Director expertise and co‐option in industry superannuation funds?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(S1), pages 1249-1283, April.
    3. Gökçen, Umut & Yalçın, Atakan, 2015. "The case against active pension funds: Evidence from the Turkish Private Pension System," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 46-67.
    4. Manuel Ammann & Christian Ehmann, 2017. "Is Governance Related to Investment Performance and Asset Allocation? Empirical Evidence from Swiss Pension Funds," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, Springer;Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics, vol. 153(3), pages 293-339, July.
    5. Audrius Kabašinskas & Francesca Maggioni & Kristina Šutienė & Eimutis Valakevičius, 2019. "A multistage risk-averse stochastic programming model for personal savings accrual: the evidence from Lithuania," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 279(1), pages 43-70, August.
    6. repec:cpn:umkeip:2012:v3:p:137-152 is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate governance; Pension funds; Board structure; Performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General

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