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CSR-Contingent Executive Compensation Incentive and Earnings Management

Author

Listed:
  • Zhichuan (Frank) Li

    (Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

  • Caleb Thibodeau

    (Department of Economics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

Abstract

This paper empirically studies the connection between earnings management and corporate social performance, conditional on the existence of CSR-contingent executive compensation contracts, an emerging practice to link executive compensation to corporate social performance. We find that executives are more likely to manipulate earnings to achieve their personal compensation goals when CSR rating is low, as well as their CSR-contingent compensation. Because of public pressure on their excessive total compensation, corporate executives see no need to manipulate earnings to increase compensation when their CSR-contingent compensation is already high. Our results suggest that earnings management and CSR-contingent compensation are substitute tools to serve the interests of executives, which is an agency problem that was never previously studied. Additionally, we explore how managerial characteristics affect earnings management, driven by the incentive effects of CSR-linked compensation.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhichuan (Frank) Li & Caleb Thibodeau, 2019. "CSR-Contingent Executive Compensation Incentive and Earnings Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-12, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:12:p:3421-:d:241802
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Khenissi, Mohamed & Jahmane, Abderrahman & Hofaidhllaoui, Mahrane, 2022. "Does the introduction of CSR criteria into CEO incentive pay reduce their earnings management? The case of companies listed in the SBF 120," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    5. Petra F. A. Dilling & Sinan Caykoylu, 2019. "Determinants of Companies that Disclose High-Quality Integrated Reports," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-31, July.
    6. Alexandre García-Mas & Antonio Núñez Prats & Aurelio Olmedilla & Roberto Ruiz-Barquín & Enrique Cantón, 2019. "Levels of Cognitive Congruence between Managers and Team Members’ Perceptions of Cooperation at Work," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-11, November.
    7. Joana Costa, 2021. "Carrots or Sticks: Which Policies Matter the Most in Sustainable Resource Management?," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-21, February.
    8. Camélia Radu & Nadia Smaili, 2022. "Alignment Versus Monitoring: An Examination of the Effect of the CSR Committee and CSR-Linked Executive Compensation on CSR Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(1), pages 145-163, September.
    9. Frode Kjærland & Ane Tolnes Haugdal & Anna Søndergaard & Anne Vågslid, 2020. "Corporate Governance and Earnings Management in a Nordic Perspective: Evidence from the Oslo Stock Exchange," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, October.
    10. Samar Alharbi & Md Al Mamun & Nader Atawnah, 2021. "Uncovering Real Earnings Management: Pay Attention to Risk-Taking Behavior," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-18, September.
    11. Wenxiu Hu & Jinzhu Du & Weiguo Zhang, 2020. "Corporate Social Responsibility Information Disclosure and Innovation Sustainability: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-19, January.
    12. Xiumei Xu & Ruolan Jing & Feifei Lu, 2022. "Environmental Regulation, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Disclosure and Enterprise Green Innovation: Evidence from Listed Companies in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-24, November.
    13. Xinpeng Xing & Tiansen Liu & Lin Shen & Jianhua Wang, 2020. "Linking Environmental Regulation and Financial Performance: The Mediating Role of Green Dynamic Capability and Sustainable Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-22, January.
    14. Cătălina Silvia Crișan-Mitra & Liana Stanca & Dan-Cristian Dabija, 2020. "Corporate Social Performance: An Assessment Model on an Emerging Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-21, May.
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    16. Yamina Chouaibi & Ghazi Zouari, 2022. "The effect of corporate social responsibility practices on real earnings management: evidence from a European ESG data," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(1), pages 11-30, March.

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