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We study how the existence of important production contracts affects the choice of CEO compensation contracts. We hypothesize that having major customers raises the costs associated with CEO risk-taking incentives and leads to lower option-based compensation. Using industry-level import tariff reductions in the U.S.
as exogenous shocks to customer relationships, we find firms with major customers subsequently reduce CEO option-based compensation significantly. We also show that continued high option compensation following tariff cuts, is associated with significant declines in these relationships and in these firms’ performance. Our study provides new insights into how important stakeholders shape executive compensation decisions.
Recent research shows that a high wage gap between managers and workers identifies better-performing firms, but the stock market does not seem to price...