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Motivating with Simple Contracts

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  • Juan F. Escobar
  • Carlos Pulgar

Abstract

In practice, incentive schemes are rarely tailored to the specific characteristics of contracting parties. However, according to economic theory, optimal contracts should be highly dependent on individual conditions. We reconcile these observations in the context of a principal-agent model with both moral hazard and adverse selection. Motivating an agent could be increasingly costly to the principal because a more productive agent could also be more able to manipulate the terms of the contract. As a result, the principal may optimally pool some types by offering a contract with constant transfer and bonus. We also explore parameterizations where the optimal contract is fully separating but simple contracts attain a significant portion of the optimal welfare. JEL classiffication: D86, L51, L22. Key words: Keywords: Moral hazard, adverse selection, regulation, simple contracts.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan F. Escobar & Carlos Pulgar, 2016. "Motivating with Simple Contracts," Documentos de Trabajo 325, Centro de Economía Aplicada, Universidad de Chile.
    • Handle: RePEc:edj:ceauch:325
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Deneckere, Raymond & de Palma, André & Leruth, Luc, 2019. "Risk sharing in procurement," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 173-220.
    3. Murali Agastya & Oleksii Birulin, 2023. "Optimal Task Scheduling under Adverse Selection and Hidden Actions," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(2), pages 660-698, May.
    4. Castro-Pires, Henrique & Moreira, Humberto, 2021. "Limited liability and non-responsiveness in agency models," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 73-103.
    5. François Maréchal & Lionel Thomas, 2018. "The Optimal Contract under Adverse Selection in a Moral-Hazard Model with a Risk-Averse Agent," Games, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-22, March.

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    Keywords

    keywords: moral hazard; adverse selection; regulation; simple contracts.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure

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