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Allocation of Decision-making Authority

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Author Info
Milton Harris
Artur Raviv

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Abstract

This paper addresses the question of what determines where in a firm's hierarchy investment decisions are made. We present a simple model of a CEO and a division manager to analyze when the CEO will choose to allocate decision-making authority over an investment decision to a division manager. Both the CEO and thedivision manager have private information regarding the profit maximizing investment level. Because the division manager is assumed to have a preference for 'empire', neither manager will communicate her information fully to the other. We show that the probability of delegation increases with the importance of the division manager's information and decreases with the importance of the CEO's information. A somewhat counterintuitive result is that, in some circumstances, increases in agency problems result in increased willingness of the CEO to delegate the decision. We also characterize situations in which the CEO prefers to commit to an allocation of authority ex ante, instead of deciding based on her private information.Finally, even though the division manager is biased toward larger investments, we show that under certainconditions, the average investment will be smaller when the decision is delegated. These results help explain some findings in the empirical literature. A number of other empirical implications are developed. Copyright 2005, Oxford University Press.

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Publisher Info
Article provided by Oxford University Press for European Finance Association in its journal Review of Finance.

Volume (Year): 9 (2005)
Issue (Month): 3 ()
Pages: 353-383
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Handle: RePEc:oup:revfin:v:9:y:2005:i:3:p:353-383

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  1. Silvia Marchesi & Laura Sabani & Axel Dreher, 2009. "Read my Lips: the Role of Information Transmission in multilateral reform design," Development Working Papers 274, Centro Studi Luca d\'Agliano, University of Milano. [Downloadable!]
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  2. Gabriel Jiménez & Vicente Salas-Fumás & Jesús Saurina, 2008. "Organizational distance and use of collateral for business loans," Banco de España Working Papers 0816, Banco de España. [Downloadable!]
  3. Oliver Board & Tiberiu Dragu, 2006. "Expert Advice with Multiple Decision Makers," Working Papers 242, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Economics, revised Jan 2006. [Downloadable!]
  4. Alonso, Ricardo & Dessein, Wouter & Matouschek, Niko, 2006. "When Does Coordination Require Centralization?," CEPR Discussion Papers 5802, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  5. Jose Maria Liberti, 2004. "Initiative, Incentives and Soft Information. How Does Delegation Impact The Role of Bank Relationship Managers?," Finance 0404023, EconWPA. [Downloadable!]
  6. Tsung-Sheng Tsai & Yasunari Tamada, 2004. "Allocation of Decision-Making Authority with Principal's Reputation Concerns," Econometric Society 2004 Far Eastern Meetings 701, Econometric Society. [Downloadable!]
  7. Anthony Marino, 2006. "Exceptions to the Rules: Variances from Regulatory Standards," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 127-150, 03. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  8. Holthausen, Cornelia & Rønde, Thomas, 2005. "Cooperation in International Banking Supervision," CEPR Discussion Papers 4990, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  9. Silvia Marchesi & Laura Sabani & Axel Dreher, 2009. "Agency and Communication in IMF Conditional Lending: Theory and Empirical Evidence," CESifo Working Paper Series CESifo Working Paper No. , CESifo Group Munich. [Downloadable!]
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