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Justifying top management pay in a transitional economy

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  • Firth, Michael
  • Leung, Tak Yan
  • Rui, Oliver M.

Abstract

We investigate some aspects of top management pay in China's listed firms. We find positive pay and performance sensitivities and elasticities for top executives. In terms of magnitude, these sensitivities are similar to those reported in U.S. firms during the 1970s. However, the pay and performance relation is slightly weaker for firms located in less developed provinces. We also find that the pay disparities between top managers and employees are positively related to a firm's performance. Thus, it appears that any deviation away from a manager-worker compensation norm has to be justified by superior firm performance. In additional analyses, we find that managers' perquisites are not related to performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Firth, Michael & Leung, Tak Yan & Rui, Oliver M., 2010. "Justifying top management pay in a transitional economy," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 852-866, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:empfin:v:17:y:2010:i:5:p:852-866
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    3. Huang, Ying Sophie & Wang, Chia-Jane, 2015. "Corporate governance and risk-taking of Chinese firms: The role of board size," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 96-113.
    4. Kun Su & Haiyan Jiang & Gary Tian, 2020. "Government's Say‐on‐pay Policy and Corporate Risk‐taking: Evidence from China," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 56(4), pages 561-601, December.
    5. Lifang Chen & Minghui Han & Yong Li & William L. Megginson & Hao Zhang, 2022. "Foreign ownership and corporate excess perks," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(1), pages 72-93, February.
    6. Martin J. Conyon & Lerong He & Xin Zhou, 2015. "Star CEOs or Political Connections? Evidence from China's Publicly Traded Firms," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(3-4), pages 412-443, April.
    7. Mike W. Peng & Sunny Li Sun & Lívia Markóczy, 2015. "Human Capital and CEO Compensation during Institutional Transitions," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(1), pages 117-147, January.
    8. Zhou, Fangzhao & Zhang, Zenan & Yang, Jun & Su, Yunpeng & An, Yunbi, 2018. "Delisting pressure, executive compensation, and corporate fraud: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 17-34.
    9. Hu, Fang & Pan, Xiaofei & Tian, Gary, 2013. "Does CEO pay dispersion matter in an emerging market? Evidence from China's listed firms," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 235-255.
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