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Specialization, Agency Cost and Firm Size

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  • Sungbin Cho

Abstract

This paper extends the principal-agent model to determine the size of the firm as measured by the number of agent hired. Hiring more agents results in benefits and costs to the principal. The benefits are gains from specialization: higher productivity can be achieved if, as the number of agents increases, their task assignments become more specialized. However, increases in task specialization make monitoring more difficult and costly. In this paper I study peer monitoring among agents. Balancing productivity gains with monitoring costs determines the optimal size of the firm. This paper shows that agency costs due to moral hazard are one factor that sets limits on firm size in a model where it would otherwise be unbounded

Suggested Citation

  • Sungbin Cho, 2004. "Specialization, Agency Cost and Firm Size," Econometric Society 2004 Far Eastern Meetings 705, Econometric Society.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecm:feam04:705
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Specialization; Firm size; Moral Hazard; Monitoring;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • M54 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Labor Management

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