Options in Compensation: Promises and Pitfalls

Posted: 11 Sep 2014

See all articles by Christian Riis Flor

Christian Riis Flor

University of Southern Denmark

Hans Frimor

Aarhus University; University of Southern Denmark - Department of Business and Economics

Claus Munk

Copenhagen Business School

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: June 1, 2014

Abstract

We derive the optimal compensation contract in a principal-agent setting in which outcome is used to provide incentives for both effort and risky investments. To motivate investment, optimal compensation entails rewards for high as well as low outcomes, and it is increasing at the mean outcome to motivate effort. If rewarding low outcomes is infeasible, compensation consisting of stocks and options is a near-efficient means of overcoming the manager's induced aversion to undertaking risky investments, whereas stock compensation is not. However, stock plus option compensation may induce excessively risky investments, and capping pay can be important in curbing such behavior.

Keywords: Induced moral hazard, incentives for investment, option-based compensation, excessive risk-taking, capped compensation, regulation

JEL Classification: D82, G31, M48, M52

Suggested Citation

Flor, Christian Riis and Frimor, Hans and Frimor, Hans and Munk, Claus, Options in Compensation: Promises and Pitfalls (June 1, 2014). Journal of Accounting Research, Vol. 52, No. 3, 2014, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2493862

Christian Riis Flor

University of Southern Denmark ( email )

Campusvej 55
Odense DK-5230
Denmark
+45 6550 3384 (Phone)
+45 6593 0726 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://sites.google.com/site/florfinance/Home

Hans Frimor (Contact Author)

Aarhus University ( email )

Department of Economics and Business
Bartholins Allé 10
Aarhus DK-8000
Denmark
+45 8942 2141 (Phone)

University of Southern Denmark - Department of Business and Economics ( email )

DK-5230 Odense
Denmark

Claus Munk

Copenhagen Business School ( email )

Department of Finance
Solbjerg Plads 3
Frederiksberg, DK-2000
Denmark

HOME PAGE: http://sites.google.com/view/clausmunk/home

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