Allocation of Decision Rights between the Parent Company and Its Subsidiaries
Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance, Forthcoming
Singapore Management University School of Accountancy Research Paper No. 2016-52
42 Pages Posted: 4 May 2016
Date Written: May 3, 2016
Abstract
This paper examines the determinants of allocation of decision rights between the parent company and its subsidiaries, and the economic consequence of suboptimal power structure. Based on China’s unique double-disclosure for the parent company and the whole group, we construct a decentralization index to measure how decision rights are allocated within the group companies. We find a more decentralized (centralized) power structure for the groups with more uncertain (certain) external environment and with poorer (better) internal information quality. We also show that the groups with suboptimal power structure have weaker future performance.
Keywords: Decentralization, Power Structure, External Environmental Uncertainty, Internal Information Quality, Performance
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation