IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/ecopln/v57y2024i3d10.1007_s10644-024-09701-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Executive compensation, equity structure and risk-taking in Chinese banks

Author

Listed:
  • Wenli Wang

    (Xi’an University of Technology)

  • Liangjie He

    (Xi’an University of Technology)

  • Jie Ma

    (InnerMongolia University of Finance and Economics)

  • Chun-Ping Chang

    (Shih Chien University at Kaohsiung)

Abstract

Executive compensation is an important part of the internal governance of commercial banks, and the rationality of the compensation mechanism directly affects the bank’s risk-taking. Based on the panel data of 34 listed small- and medium-sized banks in China from 2012 to 2020, this paper empirically examines the impact and mechanism between executive compensation and the risk-taking level of small- and medium-sized banks. We find that executives’ short-term executive compensation significantly and positively affects the risk-taking level of small- and medium-sized banks, while executives’ long-term executive compensation significantly and negatively affects the risk-taking. Furthermore, considering the specificity of the capital structure of small- and medium-sized banks, we analyse the moderating effect of the capital structure on the above roles and find that there is a partial moderating effect of the capital structure on the relationship between executive short-term compensation and risk-taking in small- and medium-sized banks. This study provides theoretical foundations and countermeasures for improving the executive compensation mechanism and optimising the equity structure to reduce the risk-taking of small- and medium-sized banks and maintain the stability of the financial system.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenli Wang & Liangjie He & Jie Ma & Chun-Ping Chang, 2024. "Executive compensation, equity structure and risk-taking in Chinese banks," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 1-28, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ecopln:v:57:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10644-024-09701-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10644-024-09701-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10644-024-09701-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10644-024-09701-1?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 search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kashif Abbass & Halima Begum & A. S. A. Ferdous Alam & Abd Hair Awang & Mohammed Khalifa Abdelsalam & Ibrahim Mohammed Massoud Egdair & Ratnaria Wahid, 2022. "Fresh Insight through a Keynesian Theory Approach to Investigate the Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-20, January.
    2. Bhagat, Sanjai & Bolton, Brian, 2014. "Financial crisis and bank executive incentive compensation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 313-341.
    3. Patrick Bolton & Hamid Mehran & Joel Shapiro, 2015. "Executive Compensation and Risk Taking," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 19(6), pages 2139-2181.
    4. repec:oup:rfinst:v:21:y:2017:i:5:p:1805-1846. is not listed on IDEAS
    5. van Bekkum, Sjoerd, 2016. "Inside Debt and Bank Risk," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 51(2), pages 359-385, April.
    6. Jennifer N. Carpenter, 2000. "Does Option Compensation Increase Managerial Risk Appetite?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 55(5), pages 2311-2331, October.
    7. Fahlenbrach, Rüdiger & Stulz, René M., 2011. "Bank CEO incentives and the credit crisis," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(1), pages 11-26, January.
    8. Niu, Bingcheng, 2024. "Government environmental protection expenditure and national ESG performance: Global evidence," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    9. Elisabetta D’Apolito & Antonia P. Iannuzzi & Stefania Sylos Labini & Edgardo Sica, 2019. "Sustainable Compensation And Performance: An Empirical Analysis Of European Banks," Journal of Financial Management, Markets and Institutions (JFMMI), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 7(01), pages 1-30, June.
    10. Chen, Xia & Fu, Qiang & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2021. "What are the shocks of climate change on clean energy investment: A diversified exploration," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    11. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    12. Collins G. Ntim & Sarah Lindop & Kofi A. Osei & Dennis A. Thomas, 2015. "Executive Compensation, Corporate Governance and Corporate Performance: A Simultaneous Equation Approach," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(2), pages 67-96, March.
    13. Gande, Amar & Kalpathy, Swaminathan, 2017. "CEO compensation and risk-taking at financial firms: Evidence from U.S. federal loan assistance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 131-150.
    14. John, Kose & Saunders, Anthony & Senbet, Lemma W, 2000. "A Theory of Bank Regulation and Management Compensation," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 13(1), pages 95-125.
    15. Feng, Gen-Fu & Niu, Peng & Wang, Jun-Zhuo & Liu, Jian, 2022. "Capital market liberalization and green innovation for sustainability: Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 610-623.
    16. Rahman, Md. Hasanur & Tanchangya, Tipon & Rahman, Junaid & Aktar, Most. Asikha & Majumder, Shapan Chandra, 2024. "Corporate social responsibility and green financing behavior in Bangladesh: Towards sustainable tourism," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    17. Mara Faccio & Maria-Teresa Marchica & Roberto Mura, 2011. "Large Shareholder Diversification and Corporate Risk-Taking," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 24(11), pages 3601-3641.
    18. Kawasaki, Akio & Naito, Tohru, 2024. "The influence of transportation costs and environmental damage on social welfare under asymmetric multi-market mixed oligopoly," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    19. Fan, Chenguang & Bae, Seongho & Liu, Yu, 2024. "Can FinTech transform corporate liquidity? Evidence from China," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    20. Denis, Diane K. & McConnell, John J., 2003. "International Corporate Governance," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 38(1), pages 1-36, March.
    21. Eriana Kartadjumena & Waymond Rodgers, 2019. "Executive Compensation, Sustainability, Climate, Environmental Concerns, and Company Financial Performance: Evidence from Indonesian Commercial Banks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-21, March.
    22. Abascal, Ramón & González, Francisco, 2023. "What drives risk-taking incentives embedded in bank executive compensation? Some international evidence," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    23. Agyenim Boateng & Vu Hong Thai Nguyen & Min Du & Frank O. Kwabi, 2022. "The impact of CEO compensation and excess reserves on bank risk-taking: the moderating role of monetary policy," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1575-1598, April.
    24. Haugen, Robert A & Senbet, Lemma W, 1981. "Resolving the Agency Problems of External Capital through Options," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 36(3), pages 629-647, June.
    25. Houston, Joel F. & James, Christopher, 1995. "CEO compensation and bank risk Is compensation in banking structured to promote risk taking?," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 405-431, November.
    26. Sui, Bo & Yao, Liuyang, 2023. "The impact of digital transformation on corporate financialization: The mediating effect of green technology innovation," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 2(1).
    27. Abascal, Ramón & González, Francisco, 2019. "Shareholder protection and bank executive compensation after the global financial crisis," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 15-37.
    28. Chu, Yongqiang & Liu, Ming & Ma, Tao & Li, Xinming, 2020. "Executive compensation and corporate risk-taking: Evidence from private loan contracts," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    29. Chen, Carl R. & Steiner, Thomas L. & Whyte, Ann Marie, 2006. "Does stock option-based executive compensation induce risk-taking? An analysis of the banking industry," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 915-945, March.
    30. Ntim, Collins G., 2016. "Corporate governance, corporate health accounting, and firm value: The case of HIV/AIDS disclosures in Sub-Saharan Africa," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 51(2), pages 155-216.
    31. Coles, Jeffrey L. & Daniel, Naveen D. & Naveen, Lalitha, 2006. "Managerial incentives and risk-taking," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(2), pages 431-468, February.
    32. Han, Xinyu & Cai, Qihua, 2024. "Environmental regulation, green credit, and corporate environmental investment," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    33. Long, Han & Feng, Genfu, 2024. "Does national ESG performance curb greenhouse gas emissions?," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    34. Bhat, Aijaz Ahmad & Mir, Ajaz Akber & Allie, Adeel Hussain & Ahmad Lone, Mushtaq & Al-Adwan, Ahmad Samed & Jamali, Dima & Riyaz, Iqra, 2024. "Unlocking corporate social responsibility and environmental performance: Mediating role of green strategy, innovation, and leadership," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    35. Bajaj, Megha & Sasaki, Nophea & Tsusaka, Takuji W. & Venkatappa, Manjunatha & Abe, Issei & Shrestha, Rajendra P., 2024. "Assessing changes in mangrove forest cover and carbon stocks in the Lower Mekong Region using Google Earth Engine," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    36. Ahakwa, Isaac & Tackie, Evelyn Agba & Tackie, Faustina Korkor & Mangudhla, Tinashe & Baig, Jibal & Islam, Sartaj ul & Sarpong, Francis Atta, 2024. "Greening the path to carbon neutrality in the post-COP26 era: Embracing green energy, green innovation, and green human capital," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    37. Uhde, André, 2016. "Risk-taking incentives through excess variable compensation: Evidence from European banks," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 12-28.
    38. Lin Guo & Abu Jalal & Shahriar Khaksari, 2015. "Bank executive compensation structure, risk taking and the financial crisis," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 609-639, October.
    39. Muntasir Murshed & Kashif Abbass & Seemran Rashid, 2021. "Modelling renewable energy adoption across south Asian economies: Empirical evidence from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 5425-5450, October.
    40. Salihi, Awaisu Adamu & Ibrahim, Haslindar & Baharudin, Dayana Mastura, 2024. "Environmental governance as a driver of green innovation capacity and firm value creation," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    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. Sui, Bo & Sharma, Susan Sunila & Yao, Liu-Yang & Ni, Guo-Hua & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Does aging affect renewable energy? The role of extreme events and economic development," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    2. Chen, Mo & Xue, Wei-Xian & Zhao, Xin-Xin & Chang, Chun-Ping & Liu, Xiaoxia, 2024. "The impact of economic sanctions on the COVID-19 pandemic," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 163-174.
    3. Chen, Lu & Ma, Yan & Feng, Gen-Fu & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Does environmental governance mitigate the detriment of greenwashing on innovation in China?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    4. Wen, Jun & Yin, Hua-Tang & Chang, Chun-Ping & Tang, Kai, 2024. "How AI shapes greener futures: Comparative insights from equity vs debt investment responses in renewable energy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    5. Chen, Xia & Zhang, Huimin & Zhao, Xin Xin & Gong, Qiang & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Do renewable energy investment and financial development mitigate climate change?," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    6. Chen, Di & Hu, Haiqing & Wang, Ning & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "The impact of green finance on transformation to green energy: Evidence from industrial enterprises in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    7. Wang, Jun-Zhuo & Feng, Gen-Fu & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "How does political instability affect renewable energy innovation?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    8. Long, Han & Prasad, Biman & Krishna, Victor & Tang, Kai & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Understanding the key determinants of Fiji's renewable energy," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1144-1157.
    9. Wang, Quan-Jing & Sharma, Susan Sunila & Ni, Guo-Hua & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Governance, energy utilization and environmental protection: Role of extreme events," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    10. Ping‐Chuan Jiang & Gen‐Fu Feng & Hai‐Jie Wang & Chun‐Ping Chang, 2024. "CSR from different perspectives: The global ESG indexes updated," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4694-4714, September.
    11. Wang, Hai-Jie & Zheng, Mei-Qi & Yin, Hua-Tang & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Green innovation, industrial structure and urban eco-efficiency in Chinese cities," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1011-1024.
    12. Chesney, Marc & Stromberg, Jacob & Wagner, Alexander F. & Wolff, Vincent, 2020. "Managerial incentives to take asset risk," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    13. Niklas Kreilkamp & Sascha Matanovic & Maximilian Schmidt & Arnt Wöhrmann, 2023. "How executive incentive design affects risk-taking: a literature review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 2349-2374, October.
    14. Gande, Amar & Kalpathy, Swaminathan, 2017. "CEO compensation and risk-taking at financial firms: Evidence from U.S. federal loan assistance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 131-150.
    15. Jennifer Kunz & Mathias Heitz, 2021. "Banks’ risk culture and management control systems: A systematic literature review," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 439-493, December.
    16. Jamshed Iqbal & Sami Vähämaa, 2019. "Managerial risk-taking incentives and the systemic risk of financial institutions," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 1229-1258, November.
    17. Mohamed Belkhir & Abdelaziz Chazi, 2010. "Compensation Vega, Deregulation, and Risk‐Taking: Lessons from the US Banking Industry," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(9‐10), pages 1218-1247, November.
    18. Rui-Xiang Zhai & Po-Hsin Ho & Chih-Yung Lin & Tran Thi Thuy Linh, 2023. "Bank CEO risk-taking incentives and bank lending quality," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 60(3), pages 949-981, April.
    19. Shah, Syed Zulfiqar Ali & Akbar, Saeed & Liu, Jia & Liu, Ziyu & Cao, Sichen, 2017. "CEO compensation and banks’ risk-taking during pre and post financial crisis periods," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1489-1503.
    20. Stavros Kourtzidis & Nickolaos G. Tzeremes, 2019. "Investigating the determinants of firm performance," European Journal of Management and Business Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 29(1), pages 3-22, June.

    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:kap:ecopln:v:57:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10644-024-09701-1. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    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.