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Information gathering by a principal

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Abstract

In the standard principal-agent model, the information structure is fixed. In this paper allow the principal to choose his level of informedness before he contracts with the agent. During the contracting phase, the agent never learns what the principal knows about the state of the world. I examine the cases where the agent observes and does not observe the level of informedness that the principal chooses. The strategic nature of the model environment implies that there are both direct and indirect costs associated with the existence of high quality information. The implications for information gathering, investment and welfare are examined for both cases.

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  • Ed Nosal, 2003. "Information gathering by a principal," Working Papers (Old Series) 0307, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedcwp:0307
    DOI: 10.26509/frbc-wp-200307
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    Cited by:

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    2. Pio Baake & Andreas Harasser & Friederike Heiny, 2016. "Information Acquisition in Vertical Relations," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1543, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    3. Oleg Muratov, 2023. "Entrepreneur–Investor Information Design," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 64(4), pages 1431-1467, November.
    4. Bedard, Nicholas C., 2017. "The strategically ignorant principal," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 548-561.
    5. Vasconcelos, Luís, 2014. "Contractual signaling, relationship-specific investment and exclusive agreements," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 19-33.
    6. Shin, Dongsoo, 2015. "Incentives and management styles," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 22-31.
    7. Canton, Joan & De Cara, Stéphane & Jayet, Pierre-Alain, 2009. "Agri-environmental schemes: Adverse selection, information structure and delegation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(7), pages 2114-2121, May.
    8. Dongsoo Shin & Sungho Yun, 2014. "Upfront versus staged financing: the role of verifiability," Quantitative Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(6), pages 1069-1078, June.
    9. Silvers, Randy, 2012. "The value of information in a principal–agent model with moral hazard: The ex post contracting case," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 74(1), pages 352-365.
    10. Baake Pio & Harasser Andreas & Heiny Friederike, 2017. "Information Acquisition in Vertical Relations," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 17(1), pages 1-13, February.
    11. Eulerich, Marc & Welge, Martin K., 2010. "Strategische Unternehmensüberwachung durch den mitbestimmten Aufsichtsrat in Krisenzeiten: Eine empirische Untersuchung der Überwachungspraxis von Arbeitnehmer- und Arbeitgebervertretern in DAX-Untern," Arbeitspapiere 225, Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Düsseldorf.
    12. McLeod, Alex, 2021. "Discovery, disclosure, and confidence," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    13. Martin Peitz & Dongsoo Shin, 2020. "Distorted Input Ratios in Vertical Relationships," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 122(4), pages 1480-1509, October.

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