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Executive Pay, Innovation, and Risk‐Taking

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  • Volker Laux

Abstract

This paper analyzes the optimal equity pay mix in a setting in which executives face career concerns and must be motivated to search for innovative investment ideas and to make appropriate decisions regarding whether to pursue the uncovered idea. I show that, depending on the value of the firm's potential growth opportunities and the CEO's concern about being fired, the CEO is either tempted to overinvest in risky ideas (excessive risk‐taking) or underinvest in risky ideas (excessive conservatism). The optimal pay package consists of stock options, to encourage the discovery of innovative ideas, and either restricted stock, to combat excessive risk‐taking, or severance pay, to combat excessive conservatism. The model provides new empirical predictions relating executive pay arrangements to the importance of innovation and career concerns and analyzes how the change in the economic environment caused by the current financial crisis might change the optimal mix of stock options, restricted stock, and severance pay.

Suggested Citation

  • Volker Laux, 2015. "Executive Pay, Innovation, and Risk‐Taking," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 275-305, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jemstr:v:24:y:2015:i:2:p:275-305
    DOI: 10.1111/jems.12090
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhou, Bing & Li, Yu-meng & Sun, Fang-cheng & Zhou, Zhong-guo, 2021. "Executive compensation incentives, risk level and corporate innovation," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    2. Clara Graziano & Annalisa Luporini, 2022. "Do Firms Gain from Managerial Overconfidence? The Role of Severance Pay," CESifo Working Paper Series 9801, CESifo.
    3. Metawa, Noura & Dogan, Eyup & Taskin, Dilvin, 2022. "Analyzing the nexus of green economy, clean and financial technology," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 385-396.
    4. Ferreira, Daniel & Athanasakou, Vasiliki & Goh, Lisa, 2017. "Changes in CEO Stock Option Grants: A Look at the Numbers," CEPR Discussion Papers 12318, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Eleftherios K. Soleas, 2020. "Leader strategies for motivating innovation in individuals: a systematic review," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-28, December.
    6. Li, Xiao-Lin & Qiu, Guojing & Ding, Hui, 2022. "The impact of exchange rate policy uncertainty shock on Chinese energy firms' risk-taking," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    7. Niklas Kreilkamp & Sascha Matanovic & Maximilian Schmidt & Arnt Wöhrmann, 2023. "How executive incentive design affects risk-taking: a literature review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 2349-2374, October.
    8. Athanasakou, Vasiliki & Ferreira, Daniel & Goh, Lisa, 2022. "Changes in CEO stock option grants: A look at the numbers," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

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