Separation of Ownership and Control: Delegation as a Commitment Device

Arbeitspapier

This paper provides a theoretical model for explaining the separation of ownership and control in firms. An entrepreneur hires a worker, whose effort is necessary for running a project. The worker\'s effort determines the probability that the project will be completed on time, but the worker receives some unobservable benefi t by continuing his employment in the project. Thus, motivating the worker requires an efficiency wage which is inflated by the private benefit. The entrepreneur would pay out a smaller wage if he could commit to terminate the project if a delay occurs, but this threat is not credible, because the project has positive continuation value. We show that hiring a manager can solve this time-inconsistency issue and reduce the efficiency wage. We extend the model to include managerial moral hazard and we examine the conditions under which separation of ownership and control is more likely to happen. The model is consistent with many of the findings of the empirical literature, while it generates some new predictions too.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Discussion Papers ; No. 79

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Economics of Contract: Theory ; Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Voting; Proxy Contests; Corporate Governance ; Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials ; Firm Organization and Market Structure ; Entrepreneurship
• Subject: control structure ; delegation ; efficiency wage ; entrepreneur ; managerial contract ; moral hazard ; organizational hierarchy ; private bene fits ; separation of owner-ship and control ; time-inconsistency

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Boukouras, Aristotelis
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Courant Research Centre - Poverty, Equity and Growth (CRC-PEG)
• (where): Göttingen
• (when): 2011

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/90578
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET