CEO risk-taking incentives and socially irresponsible activities
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between CEO risk-taking incentives, measured by the sensitivity of CEO wealth held in options to a change in stock return volatility or Vega, and socially irresponsible activities using a large sample of U.S. firms during the period 1992–2012. Our results for the period before the 2007 financial crisis suggest that CEO risk-taking incentives are positively related to socially irresponsible activities. In addition, we find that a firm's socially responsible actions may act as a moderator, strengthening the aforementioned relationship. The results after the 2007 financial crisis show no evidence of a significant relationship between CEO risk-taking incentives and socially irresponsible activities. This could be due to the increased scrutiny regarding compensation packages and the increased role of reputational issues in the aftermath of the financial crisis. Our results suggest that risk-taking incentives embedded in the CEO compensation scheme have implications for corporate policies toward socially irresponsible activities.
Citation
Bouslah , K , Liñares-Zegarra , J , M'Zali , B & Scholtens , B 2018 , ' CEO risk-taking incentives and socially irresponsible activities ' , British Accounting Review , vol. 50 , no. 1 , pp. 76-92 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2017.05.004
Publication
British Accounting Review
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0890-8389Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Ltd. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2017.05.004
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