Strategic Transfer Pricing with Risk Averse Agents

Universitaet Fribourg Working Paper No. 359

27 Pages Posted: 7 Dec 2003

See all articles by Robert F. Göx

Robert F. Göx

University of Zurich - Managerial Accounting; University of Zurich - Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Information Technology

Jens Robert Schöndube

Leibniz Universität Hannover

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: 2003

Abstract

This paper analyzes strategic transfer pricing with risk and effort averse divisional managers. In contrast to earlier literature, we find that the existence of a standard agency problem allows transfer pricing to serve as a commitment device even if the transfer prices are not mutually observable. The reason is that transfer prices are set above marginal cost to solve the agency problem and not for strategic purposes. Delegating the pricing authority to a risk averse manager therefore implies that he sets a higher product price than the risk neutral owner because at the divisional level the transfer price represents the relevant unit cost for pricing. We show that the optimal scope of managerial authority generally depends on both, the risk premium and the intensity of competition in the product market. We also identify conditions under which the delegation of pricing responsibilities to risk averse managers constitutes a dominant strategy equilibrium.

Keywords: strategic transfer pricing, agency theory, duopoly

JEL Classification: D49, D82, L13, M40, M46

Suggested Citation

Goex, Robert F. and Schöndube, Jens Robert, Strategic Transfer Pricing with Risk Averse Agents (2003). Universitaet Fribourg Working Paper No. 359, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=469641 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.469641

Robert F. Goex (Contact Author)

University of Zurich - Managerial Accounting ( email )

Plattenstrasse 14
Zurich, CH-8032
Switzerland

University of Zurich - Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Information Technology ( email )

Plattenstrasse 14
Zürich, 8032
Switzerland

Jens Robert Schöndube

Leibniz Universität Hannover ( email )

30167
Germany

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