Title: Effects of executive compensation incentive on R&D investments: a behavioural study of corporate governance based on Taiwanese firms

Authors: Weining Liu; Hsiuling Wen

Addresses: Graduate Institute of Human Resource and Knowledge Management, National Kaohsiung Normal University, 116, Sec 1. He Ping Rd., Kaohsiung, Taiwan ' Graduate Institute of Human Resource and Knowledge Management, National Kaohsiung Normal University, 116, Sec 1. He Ping Rd., Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Abstract: From the perspective of corporate governance, the compensation scheme directly motivates executive behaviour, and corporate governance importantly affects the innovative capacity of a firm. Stock-based pay is a powerful tool with which to link an executive's compensation to a company's long-term profitability. However, a question remains regarding whether stock-based pay and cash compensation have different effects on an executive's behaviour in the formulation of firm strategies, particularly those regarding R&D investments. Therefore, this investigation uses two moderating variables, firm risk and board composition to study their moderation of the correlation between executive compensation and the behaviour of executives in making corporate R&D investments. We find stock compensation is more likely to promote innovation in high-risk firms, whereas cash compensation is more likely to do so in low-risk firms. Additionally, in firms with a relatively high outsider board representation, stock-based compensation motivates executives to take innovation risks to justify their pay.

Keywords: executive compensation; R&D investment; board composition; corporate governance; firm risk; board outsiders; Taiwan; research and development; motivation; executive behaviour; stock-based pay; cash compensation; incentives; innovation risks; pay justification.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCG.2013.056262

International Journal of Corporate Governance, 2013 Vol.4 No.3, pp.260 - 276

Published online: 02 Sep 2013 *

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