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Dynamic incentive contracts with controllable risk

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  • Zhang, Yuqian
  • Yang, Zhaojun

Abstract

We address a dynamic contracting model in which a principal hires an agent to manage a project. The key new ingredient is that either the principal or the agent can dynamically control the project risk. Increasing the risk has three effects: (i) a positive drift effect due to the risk premium, (ii) a negative drift effect that captures inefficiencies arising from risk-shifting, and (iii) a mechanical mean-preserving spread effect. We show that if the principal instead of agent controls the risk, we get a higher contract efficiency. The higher the agent's promised value, the more pronounced the advantage. The non-contractibility of risk induces the agent's risk-taking behavior. The contract efficiency in the exogenous no-savings environment is higher than that in the endogenous one due to additional costs of no-savings incentives. These findings contribute to the allocation of control rights, bringing forth a corporate governance perspective.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Yuqian & Yang, Zhaojun, 2025. "Dynamic incentive contracts with controllable risk," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:dyncon:v:178:y:2025:i:c:s0165188925001265
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jedc.2025.105160
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    JEL classification:

    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts

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