Gaming Performance Fees By Portfolio Managers

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 2010
Volume: 125
Issue: 4
Pages: 1435-1458

Authors (2)

Dean P. Foster (University of Pennsylvania) H. Peyton Young (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

We show that it is very difficult to devise performance-based compensation contracts that reward portfolio managers who generate excess returns while screening out managers who cannot generate such returns. Theoretical bounds are derived on the amount of fee manipulation that is possible under various performance contracts.We show that recent proposals to reform compensation practices, such as postponing bonuses and instituting clawback provisions, will not eliminate opportunities to game the system unless accompanied by transparency in managers' positions and strategies. Indeed, there exists no compensation mechanism that separates skilled from unskilled managers solely on the basis of their returns histories.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:125:y:2010:i:4:p:1435-1458.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25