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Agency Problems in Early Chartered Companies: The Case of the Hudson’s Bay Company

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  • Carlos, Ann M.
  • Nicholas, Stephen

Abstract

The problem of controlling overseas managers confronts all multilocational firms. Historians have argued that because of the extreme time lags in communication, chartered companies were unable to control managerial behavior. We argue that not only did the Hudson’s Bay Company understand the agency problem but also put into operation strategies designed to attenuate opportunistic behavior. The company used employment contracts and control systems and established a social structure compatible with the company’s aims.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos, Ann M. & Nicholas, Stephen, 1990. "Agency Problems in Early Chartered Companies: The Case of the Hudson’s Bay Company," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 50(4), pages 853-875, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:50:y:1990:i:04:p:853-875_03
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    Cited by:

    1. Erik Lindberg, 2009. "Club goods and inefficient institutions: why Danzig and Lübeck failed in the early modern period," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 62(3), pages 604-628, August.
    2. Hutková, Karolina, 2017. "Transfer of European technologies and their adaptations: the case of the Bengal silk industry in the late-eighteenth century," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 69819, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Gillian C. Hamilton & Ian Keay & Frank D. Lewis, 2017. "Contributions to Canadian economic history: The last 30 years," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 50(5), pages 1632-1657, December.
    4. James R. Markusen, 1995. "The Boundaries of Multinational Enterprises and the Theory of International Trade," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 9(2), pages 169-189, Spring.
    5. Nieuwerburgh, Stijn Van & Buelens, Frans & Cuyvers, Ludo, 2006. "Stock market development and economic growth in Belgium," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 13-38, January.
    6. Etro, Federico, 2018. "The Economics of Renaissance Art," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 78(2), pages 500-538, June.
    7. Turner, John D., 2017. "The development of English company law before 1900," QUCEH Working Paper Series 2017-01, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University Centre for Economic History.
    8. Carlos, Ann M. & Green, Erik & Links, Calumet & Redish, Angela, 2024. "Early-modern globalization and the extent of indigenous agency: Trade, commodities, and ecology," QUCEH Working Paper Series 24-04, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University Centre for Economic History.
    9. Edwards, John Richard & Dean, Graeme & Clarke, Frank, 2009. "Merchants' accounts, performance assessment and decision making in mercantilist Britain," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 551-570, July.
    10. Forestier, Albane, 2005. "Principle-agent problems in the French slave trade: the case of Rochelais Armateurs and their agents, 1763-1792," Economic History Working Papers 22478, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Economic History.
    11. Sheilagh Ogilvie, 2007. "'Whatever Is, Is Right'?, Economic Institutions in Pre-Industrial Europe (Tawney Lecture 2006)," CESifo Working Paper Series 2066, CESifo.
    12. Thomas Leng, 2016. "Interlopers and disorderly brethren at the Stade Mart: commercial regulations and practices amongst the Merchant Adventurers of England in the late Elizabethan period," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 69(3), pages 823-843, August.
    13. Vijay K. Seth, 2012. "The East India Company—A Case Study in Corporate Governance," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 13(2), pages 221-238, June.
    14. Yang, Der-Yuan, 2008. "On the elements and practices of monitoring," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 65(3-4), pages 654-666, March.
    15. S. Subramanian, 2016. "A Comparison of Corporate Governance Practices in State-owned Enterprises and Their Private Sector Peers in India," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 5(2), pages 200-216, July.

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