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Separation of Ownership and Control: Implications for Board Composition

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  • Enya He
  • David W. Sommer

Abstract

This article investigates the implications of separation of ownership and control for board composition over a spectrum of ownership structures present in the U.S. property–liability insurance industry. We hypothesize that agency costs associated with manager–owner conflicts increase with the degree of separation of ownership and control. Greater agency costs imply a greater need for monitoring by outside directors on the board. Therefore, use of outside directors is expected to increase as the separation of ownership and control gets larger. Employing a sample of property–liability insurers exhibiting different degrees of separation of ownership and control, we find support for our hypothesis.

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  • Enya He & David W. Sommer, 2010. "Separation of Ownership and Control: Implications for Board Composition," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 77(2), pages 265-295, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jrinsu:v:77:y:2010:i:2:p:265-295
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6975.2010.01351.x
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    3. Chia-Ling Ho & Gene Lai & Sangyong Han & Licheng Jin, 2022. "Organisational structure, corporate governance and reinsurance decisions in the U.S. property-liability insurance industry," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 47(4), pages 737-784, October.
    4. Willie Dion Reddic, 0. "Under pressure: investment behaviour of insurers under different financial and regulatory conditions," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 0, pages 1-20.
    5. Cassandra R. Cole & Enya He & Kathleen A. McCullough & David W. Sommer, 2011. "Separation of Ownership and Management: Implications for Risk‐Taking Behavior," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 14(1), pages 49-71, March.
    6. Braun, Alexander & Schmeiser, Hato & Rymaszewski, Przemysław, 2015. "Stock vs. mutual insurers: Who should and who does charge more?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 242(3), pages 875-889.
    7. Lu, Erin P. & Lai, Gene C. & Ma, Qingzhong, 2017. "Organizational structure, risk-based capital requirements, and the sales of downgraded bonds," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 51-68.
    8. Acero Fraile, Isabel & Alcalde Fradejas, Nuria, 2014. "Ownership structure and board composition in a high ownership concentration context," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 646-657.
    9. Li‐Ying Huang & Gene C. Lai & Erin Lu & Michael McNamara, 2020. "Auditor quality, audit fees, organizational structure, and risk taking in the US life insurance industry," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 23(2), pages 151-182, June.
    10. Baldacchino & P.J. & Callus & A. & Tabone & N. & Ellul & L. & Grima & S., 2022. "The Barriers and Effectiveness of Management Monitoring by Maltese Listed Boards*," International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, vol. 12(2), pages 92-127.
    11. Willie Dion Reddic, 2021. "Under pressure: investment behaviour of insurers under different financial and regulatory conditions," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 46(1), pages 1-20, January.
    12. Luisa Anderloni & Ornella Moro & Alessandra Tanda, 2019. "Governance e performance nelle imprese di assicurazioni: un’analisi bibliometrica ed una meta analisi," DEM Working Papers Series 177, University of Pavia, Department of Economics and Management.
    13. Hsu-Huei Huang & Min-Lee Chan, 2013. "The initial private placement of equity and changes in operating performance in Taiwan," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 53(3), pages 711-730, September.
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