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Corporate boards and incentives: Empirical evidence from the UK in 1935

  • Marianne Pitts
  • , Graham V. Sadler
  • , Martin J. Conyon
    • University of Pennsylvania

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We investigate boardroom governance using UK historical data for 1935. We demonstrate that there is a negative relationship between risk and incentives in this year. Prior research has produced anomalous results (Prendergast, 2002). Second, we show that average (median) board ownership of ordinary shares is about 7.95% (2.88%). Heuristically this figure is less than previously reported estimates for the US also using 1935 data. Finally, we show the phenomenon of multiple board membership. UK directors in 1935 hold many directorships - sometimes exceeding 10 concurrent memberships.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)129-138
    Number of pages10
    JournalCorporate Ownership and Control
    Volume1
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2003

    Keywords

    • Board incentives
    • Board membership
    • Board ownership

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Business,Management and Accounting

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