JFE2009

It Pays to Have Friends

Journal of Financial Economics 93, 138-158

In one sentence

Social ties between corporate directors and CEOs appear to affect directors’ monitoring effectiveness.

Summary

We provide evidence that social ties between directors and CEOs matter, above and beyond conventional ties. In particular, firms whose boards are conventionally and socially independent award lower compensation and exhibit stronger pay–performance and turnover–performance sensitivities.

Research topics

corporate governancesocial tiesboards of directorsCEO monitoring