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Perk consumption as a suboptimal outcome under pay regulations

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  • Donghua Chen
  • Oliver Zhen Li
  • Shangkun Liang

Abstract

We examine how perk consumption is determined and whether it impacts firm value in China where executive pay is regulated. We find that perks are provided when the relative pay between top executives and average employees is low, in firms with high free cash flows, economic rent, and growth. Perks are positively associated with firm value, but to a much lesser extent than monetary compensation. This suggests that if perks are converted to cash compensation, shareholder wealth can be further enhanced. However, under China’s regulated compensation structure, this conversion may not be easily achieved and perks likely represent a second-best suboptimal solution in motivating executives.

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  • Donghua Chen & Oliver Zhen Li & Shangkun Liang, 2016. "Perk consumption as a suboptimal outcome under pay regulations," Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(4), pages 373-399, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:raaexx:v:23:y:2016:i:4:p:373-399
    DOI: 10.1080/16081625.2015.1076755
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    2. Liu, Lihua & Shu, Haicheng, 2022. "Mandatory dividend policy and perk consumption: Evidence from state-owned business groups in China," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    3. Zhang, Jian & Yuan, Yue & Zhang, Yinge & Xu, Jian, 2022. "Public attention and executive perks: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    4. Xiaoyi Ren & Xing Liu & Zongtao Tian, 2020. "Excess perks in SOEs: evidence from China," Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, The Crawford School, The Australian National University, vol. 34(2), pages 152-165, November.
    5. Hanming Fang & Zhe Li & Nianhang Xu & Hongjun Yan, 2023. "Firms and Local Governments: Relationship Building during Political Turnovers," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 27(2), pages 739-762.
    6. Ping Wang & Hua Bu & Huaping Sun, 2021. "The Impact of On-the-Job Consumption on the Sustainable Development of Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-18, December.
    7. Meng Lyu & Xiaojie Christine Sun & Bing Wang, 2023. "Chief Audit Executive as Supervisory Board Member and Executive Compensation Contracts," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 59(1), pages 258-299, March.

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