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Say pays! Shareholder voice and firm performance

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Listed:
  • Cuñat, Vicente
  • Giné, Mireia
  • Guadalupe, Maria

Abstract

This paper estimates the effects of Say-on-Pay (SoP); a policy that increases shareholder "voice" by providing shareholders with a regular vote on executive pay. We apply a regression discontinuity design to the votes on shareholder-sponsored SoP proposals. Adopting SoP leads to large increases in market value (4.6%) and to improvements in long-term performance: profitability and labor productivity increase, while overheads and investment fall. In contrast, we find limited effects on pay levels and structure. This suggests that SoP operates as a regular vote of confidence, increasing efficiency and market value.

Suggested Citation

  • Cuñat, Vicente & Giné, Mireia & Guadalupe, Maria, 2013. "Say pays! Shareholder voice and firm performance," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 55406, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:55406
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    say-on-pay; shareholder voice; executive compensation; firm performance; governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation

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