Managing innovation: Optimal incentive contracts for delegated R&D with double moral hazard

B-Tier
Journal: European Economic Review
Year: 2017
Volume: 95
Issue: C
Pages: 38-61

Authors (2)

Poblete, Joaquín (not in RePEc) Spulber, Daniel (Northwestern University)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Managing innovation involves double moral hazard because the principal delegates R&D to a specialized agent and then makes decisions to apply the resulting invention. Double moral hazard is significant because innovation by the principal implies that the optimal incentive contract satisfies monotonicity conditions. The analysis shows that the optimal incentive contract for delegated R&D is an option. Delegated R&D with simultaneous sampling results in shirking but delegated R&D with sequential sampling attains the efficient outcome. The analysis considers a combined problem with simultaneous and sequential search and gives sufficient conditions under which delegated R&D attains the first best. The discussion also considers delegated R&D with stochastic innovation and with stochastic quality of inventions.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:eecrev:v:95:y:2017:i:c:p:38-61
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29