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Determinants of executive compensation in privately held firms

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  • Jesper Banghøj
  • Gorm Gabrielsen
  • Christian Petersen
  • Thomas Plenborg

Abstract

We examine what determines executive compensation in privately held firms. Our study is motivated by the fact that most studies in this area rely on data from publicly traded firms. Further, the few studies that are based on data from privately held firms only examine a limited number of determinants of executive compensation. Our findings indicate that the pay‐to‐performance relation is weak. Board size and ownership concentration are the only corporate governance characteristics that explain variations in executive compensation. Executive characteristics like skills, title and educational attainment all explain variations in executive compensation. Contrary to our expectations, we do not find a stronger pay‐to‐performance relation in firms with better designed bonus plans.

Suggested Citation

  • Jesper Banghøj & Gorm Gabrielsen & Christian Petersen & Thomas Plenborg, 2010. "Determinants of executive compensation in privately held firms," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 50(3), pages 481-510, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:50:y:2010:i:3:p:481-510
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-629X.2009.00335.x
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    3. Yasheng Chen & Johnny Jermias, 2014. "Business strategy, executive compensation and firm performance," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 54(1), pages 113-134, March.
    4. Andres Felipe Cortes & Andreea N. Kiss, 2023. "Is managerial discretion high in small firms? A theoretical framework," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 157-172, January.
    5. Jebreel Mohammad Al-Al-Msiedeen & Fawzi A. Al Sawalqa, 2021. "Ownership Structure and CEO Compensation: Evidence from Jordan," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 11(5), pages 365-383, May.
    6. Husam Aldamen & Keith Duncan & Simone Kelly & Ray McNamara & Stephan Nagel, 2012. "Audit committee characteristics and firm performance during the global financial crisis," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 52(4), pages 971-1000, December.
    7. Manika Kohli, 2018. "Impact of Ownership Type and Board Characteristics on the Pay–Performance Relationship: Evidence from India," Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, , vol. 11(1), pages 1-34, June.
    8. Kuo, Hsien-Chang & Lin, Dan & Lien, Donald & Wang, Lie-Huey & Yeh, Li-Jen, 2014. "Is there an inverse U-shaped relationship between pay and performance?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 347-357.
    9. Pamela Kent & Kim Kercher & James Routledge, 2018. "Remuneration committees, shareholder dissent on CEO pay and the CEO pay–performance link," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 58(2), pages 445-475, June.
    10. Theeravanich, Amnaj, 2013. "Director compensation in emerging markets: A case study of Thailand," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 71-91.
    11. Fabián Blanes & Cristina De Fuentes & Rubén Porcuna, 2021. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Managerial Compensation: Further Evidence from Spanish Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, June.
    12. Giulia Flamini & Paola Vola & Lucrezia Songini & Luca Gnan, 2021. "The Determinants of Tax Aggressiveness in Family Firms: An Investigation of Italian Private Family Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-21, July.
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    15. Chenli Yin & Dan Li & Maria Paz Salmador, 2022. "Institutional change of compensation policy and its impact on CEO turnover and firm performance," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(8), pages 2527-2552, November.

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