Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP4038
Authors: Sandeep Kapur; Allan G. Timmermann
Abstract: We analyse the equilibrium consequences of performance-based contracts for fund managers. Managerial remuneration is tied to a fund's absolute performance and its performance relative to rival funds. Investors choose whether or not to delegate their investment to better-informed fund managers; if they delegate they choose the parameters of the optimal contract subject to the fund manager's participation constraint. We find that the impact of relative performance evaluation on equilibrium equity premium and on portfolio-herding critically depends on whether the participation constraint is binding. Simple numerical examples suggest that the increased importance of delegation and performance evaluation may lower the equity premium.
Keywords: equity premium; portfolio delegation; relative performance evaluation
JEL Codes: G11; G12; G23
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| performance-based contracts (J33) | equity premium (G12) |
| binding participation constraint (D10) | equity premium (G12) |
| performance evaluation (C52) | investor behavior (G41) |
| performance-based contracts (J33) | portfolio herding (G11) |
| portfolio herding (G11) | equity premium (G12) |