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Is There Too Much Benchmarking in Asset Management?

Author

Listed:
  • Anil K Kashyap
  • Natalia Kovrijnykh
  • Jian Li
  • Anna Pavlova

Abstract

We propose a tractable model of asset management in which benchmarking arises endogenously, and analyze its welfare consequences. Fund managers' portfolios are not contractible and they incur private costs in running them. Incentive contracts for fund managers create a pecuniary externality through their effect on asset prices. Benchmarking inflates asset prices and creates crowded trades. The crowding reduces the effectiveness of benchmarking in incentive contracts for others, which fund investors fail to account for. A social planner, recognizing the crowding, opts for contracts with less benchmarking and less incentive provision. The planner also delivers lower asset management costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Anil K Kashyap & Natalia Kovrijnykh & Jian Li & Anna Pavlova, 2023. "Is There Too Much Benchmarking in Asset Management?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 113(4), pages 1112-1141, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:113:y:2023:i:4:p:1112-41
    DOI: 10.1257/aer.20210476
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets

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