IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finana/v102y2025ics1057521925002406.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Salary incentives, internal control, and firm's total factor productivity

Author

Listed:
  • Cheng, Zhuo
  • Huang, Siqi
  • Yuan, Jingyi

Abstract

Using data from Chinese A-share listed state-owned enterprises from 2012 to 2022, this study systematically analyzes the impact mechanism of executive compensation incentives and equity incentives on enterprise total factor productivity (TFP). Furthermore, it examines the mediating role of internal control and the moderating effect of managerial myopia. Findings indicate that compensation and equity incentives significantly improve the TFP of state-owned enterprises, demonstrating their critical function as a primary means of improving business operational efficiency. Internal control serves as a partial mediator in this process, boosting the effectiveness of incentive programs. However, managerial myopia harms the positive effects of compensation and equity incentives. This study offers a unique perspective for understanding corporate incentive mechanisms and their influencing factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng, Zhuo & Huang, Siqi & Yuan, Jingyi, 2025. "Salary incentives, internal control, and firm's total factor productivity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:102:y:2025:i:c:s1057521925002406
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2025.104153
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1057521925002406
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.irfa.2025.104153?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wu, Qingyang & Wang, Yanying, 2022. "How does carbon emission price stimulate enterprises' total factor productivity? Insights from China's emission trading scheme pilots," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    2. Yin, Lei & Tao, Yunqing & Wang, Meng, 2022. "Trust and pay gap: Quasi-natural experimental evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    3. Ren, Xiaohang & liu, Ziqing & Jin, Chenglu & Lin, Ruya, 2023. "Oil price uncertainty and enterprise total factor productivity: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 201-218.
    4. Sheng, Xin & Guo, Songlin & Chang, Xiaochen, 2022. "Managerial myopia and firm productivity: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    5. Guo, Shu & Zhang, ZhongXiang, 2023. "Green credit policy and total factor productivity: Evidence from Chinese listed companies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    6. Pandher, Gurupdesh, 2022. "Determinants of Return-maximizing CEO Equity & Cash compensation," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 154-168.
    7. Cheng, Weixuan & Li, Cheng & Zhao, Tianjiao, 2024. "The stages of enterprise digital transformation and its impact on internal control: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    8. Bhaskar, Ratikant & Bansal, Shashank & Abbassi, Wajih & Pandey, Dharen Kumar, 2023. "CEO compensation and CSR: Economic implications and policy recommendations," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 232-256.
    9. Wang, Ruixue & Deng, Xiangzheng & Gao, Yunxiao & Chen, Jiancheng, 2025. "Does regional economic development drive sustainable grain production growth in China? Evidence from spatiotemporal perspective on low-carbon total factor productivity," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    10. Zhao, Liange & Wang, Dongmei & Wang, Xueyuan & Zhang, Zhijian, 2023. "Impact of green finance on total factor productivity of heavily polluting enterprises: Evidence from green finance reform and innovation pilot zone," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 765-785.
    11. Demir, Firat & Hu, Chenghao & Liu, Junyi & Shen, Hewei, 2022. "Local corruption, total factor productivity and firm heterogeneity: Empirical evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    12. Lu, Yu & Cao, Yue, 2018. "The individual characteristics of board members and internal control weakness: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 75-94.
    13. Zhang, Bingbing & Yu, Lan & Sun, Chuanwang, 2022. "How does urban environmental legislation guide the green transition of enterprises? Based on the perspective of enterprises' green total factor productivity," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    14. Li, Zhigang & Xie, Bingyuan & Chen, Ximing & Fu, Qilong, 2024. "Corporate digital transformation, governance shifts and executive pay-performance sensitivity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    15. Le, Hoi Quoc & Vu, Thi Phuong Lien & Do, Vu Phuong Anh & Do, Anh Duc, 2022. "The enduring effect of formalization on firm-level corruption in Vietnam: The mediating role of internal control," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 364-373.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yushu, Kuang & Zongkeng, Li & Rui, Liang, 2024. "Disclosure of internal control evaluation reports of Chinese enterprises: History, problems and strategies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    2. Lu, Shan & Peng, Sihan & Shi, Jiaxin & Zhang, Ci & Feng, Yanchao, 2024. "How does digital transformation affect the total factor productivity of China's A-share listed enterprises in the mineral resource-based sector?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    3. Lu, Gang & Miao, Yutian & Liu, Siyan & Wang, Jing, 2025. "Acceleration or deceleration? The impact of trade digitization on the speed of enterprise internationalization," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    4. Ning Li & Ruiling Li & Shangshang Yu, 2024. "Managerial Myopia and Enterprise Green Total Factor Productivity: Perspectives on the Supervisory Effect and Incentive Effect," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-21, August.
    5. Tao, Miaomiao & Dagestani, Abd Alwahed & Goh, Lim Thye & Zheng, Yuhang & Le, Wen, 2023. "Do China's anti-corruption efforts improve corporate productivity? A difference-in-difference exploration of Chinese listed enterprises," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PB).
    6. Sun, Yabin, 2025. "The effect of corporate social responsibility on total factor productivity: Insights into managerial myopia and innovation mediation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    7. Guoen Xia & Zenghui Yu & Xuwu Peng, 2023. "How Does Enterprise Digital Transformation Affect Total Factor Productivity? Based on the Information Intermediary Role of Analysts’ Attention," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-22, May.
    8. Tang, Mengxuan & Hu, Yang & Hou, Yang (Greg) & Oxley, Les & Goodell, John W., 2025. "Fintech development, corporate tax avoidance and firm value," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    9. Yang, Zongshang & Li, Juan & Zhu, Lijun & Chen, Haisong, 2025. "Can strengthening legal systems enhance regional green total factor productivity?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    10. Zhang, Yi & Wang, Ting & Liu, Chun, 2024. "Beyond the modern productivity paradox: The effect of robotics technology on firm-level total factor productivity in China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    11. Liao, Zhaoguang & Xiao, Luan, 2025. "Government environmental regulation, media attention, and corporate green innovation," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    12. Zhang, Yuan & Li, Ying, 2025. "Enhancing innovation capabilities, digital management, and corporate competitiveness," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    13. Guanyu LU & Kenta TANAKA & Toshi H. ARIMURA, 2025. "The Impact of Emissions Trading Systems on Manufacturing Installation Productivity: Evidence from Japan," Discussion papers 25063, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    14. Boulanouar, Zakaria & Essid, Lobna & Omri, Anis, 2024. "Achieving carbon neutrality in emerging markets: The dual impact of energy transition investments on economic growth and carbon emissions," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PC).
    15. Weili Li, 2025. "Optimizing Enterprise Productivity in the Digital Economy: A Genetic Algorithm and Multi-Objective Approach," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(1), pages 2670-2688, March.
    16. Rakhman, Fuad & Wijayana, Singgih, 2024. "Human development and the quality of financial reporting among the local governments in Indonesia," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    17. Deng, Yumiao & Fang, Mengmeng & Ma, Sichao & Wang, Fanzhi & Wu, Wanting, 2025. "The impact of bank FinTech on green credit allocation: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    18. Da Gao & Xiaotian Zhou & Jing Wan, 2024. "Unlocking sustainability potential: The impact of green finance reform on corporate ESG performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4211-4226, September.
    19. Chu, Baoju & Dong, Yizhe & Liu, Yaorong & Ma, Diandian & Wang, Tianju, 2024. "Does China's emission trading scheme affect corporate financial performance: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    20. Xi, Mengjie & Liu, Yang & Fang, Wei & Feng, Taiwen, 2024. "Intelligent manufacturing for strengthening operational resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: A dynamic capability theory perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:102:y:2025:i:c:s1057521925002406. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/620166 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.