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Managerial Overconfidence and Cost Behavior of R&D Expenditures

Author

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  • Kang Sung Hur

    (Department of Accounting, College of Business and Economics, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea)

  • Dong Hyun Kim

    (Department of Accounting, College of Business and Economics, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea)

  • Joon Hei Cheung

    (Department of Accounting, College of Economics & Business Administration, Daegu University, 201 Daegudae-ro, Gyeongsanbuk-do 38454, Korea)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of a CEO’s confidence level on decisions regarding research and development (R&D) expenditures. R&D is an important part of a company’s strategy for achieving long-term sustainable growth. However, due to its discretionary nature, some CEOs choose to reduce R&D costs to enhance short-term performance. In other words, R&D cost behavior may vary depending on CEO characteristics. This study examines whether, in an effort to improve their firm’s future performance, CEOs who are highly overconfident tend not to actively decrease R&D expenditures even when sales decrease. We posit that CEO overconfidence affects the cost behavior of R&D spending that is not related to their personal privileges. A cost behavior model was utilized to verify the relationship between CEOs’ propensity for overconfidence and R&D expenditures. Our findings show that highly overconfident CEOs tend not to take actions to reduce R&D costs even if sales decrease because CEO overconfidence tends to be positively related to R&D. Since R&D represents both costs and long-term investments, policy support for capitalizing R&D costs can be considered as enhancing the sustainability of businesses.

Suggested Citation

  • Kang Sung Hur & Dong Hyun Kim & Joon Hei Cheung, 2019. "Managerial Overconfidence and Cost Behavior of R&D Expenditures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:18:p:4878-:d:264715
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Weifeng Xu & Qingsong Ruan & Chang Liu, 2019. "Can the Famous University Experience of Top Managers Improve Corporate Performance? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Chaohai Shen & Bingquan Fang & Xiaolan Zhou, 2022. "The Relationship between Corporate Sustainable Development Performance, Investor Sentiment, and Managerial Overconfidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Tingyong Zhong & Fangcheng Sun & Haiyan Zhou & Jeoung Yul Lee, 2020. "Business Strategy, State-Owned Equity and Cost Stickiness: Evidence from Chinese Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Kyung-Hee Park & Jinho Byun & Paul Moon Sub Choi, 2019. "Managerial Overconfidence, Corporate Social Responsibility Activities, and Financial Constraints," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Jennifer Kunz & Lara Sonnenholzner, 2023. "Managerial overconfidence: promoter of or obstacle to organizational resilience?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 67-128, January.

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