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Effects of minimum wage policies on executive compensation contracts: An empirical analysis in China

Author

Listed:
  • Jian, Lei
  • Wang, Meng
  • Wang, Xiaojia
  • Zhang, Yan
Abstract
This paper investigates the impact of minimum wage policies on executive pay-for-performance sensitivity (PPS) in the compensation packages of A-share listed firms in China. Using data from 745 counties between 2007 and 2020, we find that minimum wage policies lead to a decrease in PPS. This finding remains robust through instrumental variable approaches, cross-border matching tests, alternative measurements, and other rigorous tests. Moreover, the negative impact of minimum wage on PPS is more pronounced in companies with higher labor dependency, limited ability to pass on labor costs to customers, and lower risk resilience. These results support the hypothesis that rising labor costs due to increased minimum wage, which lead to performance distortion and heightened risk, promote shareholders to reduce PPS to optimize compensation contracts for value maximization.

Suggested Citation

  • Jian, Lei & Wang, Meng & Wang, Xiaojia & Zhang, Yan, 2024. "Effects of minimum wage policies on executive compensation contracts: An empirical analysis in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:96:y:2024:i:pb:s1057521924006148
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2024.103682
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Minimum wage policies; Executive compensation; Pay-for-performance sensitivity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • M52 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Compensation and Compensation Methods and Their Effects

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