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Agency Contracts, Noncommitment Timing Strategies and Real Options

Author

Listed:
  • Keiichi Hori

    (Ritsumeikan University)

  • Hiroshi Osano

    (Kyoto University)

Abstract

Given that an owner lacks the ability to commit to his or her timing decisions under a manager’s hidden action, we consider the optimal design of the contract and the owner’s optimal timing decisions. Using a real options approach, we show that, compared with the full commitment case, a higher (lower)-quality project is launched later than (at the same time as) the first-best case, whereas the replacement of the manager is (is not necessarily) made later if the hidden-action problem is severe enough (is not severe enough). Severance pay may serve to minimize the compensation for the manager’s loss of corporate control.

Suggested Citation

  • Keiichi Hori & Hiroshi Osano, 2017. "Agency Contracts, Noncommitment Timing Strategies and Real Options," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 68(4), pages 521-554, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jecrev:v:68:y:2017:i:4:d:10.1111_jere.12144
    DOI: 10.1111/jere.12144
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    Cited by:

    1. Spear, Stephen E. & Wang, Cheng, 2005. "When to fire a CEO: optimal termination in dynamic contracts," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 120(2), pages 239-256, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    D82; G30; G34; M51; M52;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • M51 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Firm Employment Decisions; Promotions
    • M52 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Compensation and Compensation Methods and Their Effects

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