Duration of Executive Compensation

  • Radhakrishnan Gopalan
  • , Todd Milbourn
  • , Fenghua Song
  • , Anjan V. Thakor

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    196 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Extensive discussions on the inefficiencies of "short-termism" in executive compensation notwithstanding, little is known empirically about the extent of such short-termism. We develop a novel measure of executive pay duration that reflects the vesting periods of different pay components, thereby quantifying the extent to which compensation is short-term. We calculate pay duration in various industries and document its correlation with firm characteristics. Pay duration is longer in firms with more growth opportunities, more long-term assets, greater R&D intensity, lower risk, and better recent stock performance. Longer CEO pay duration is negatively related to the extent of earnings-increasing accruals.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2777-2817
    Number of pages41
    JournalThe Journal of Finance
    Volume69
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Dec 1 2014

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Duration of Executive Compensation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this