Does hometown connection between chairmen and CEOs improve compensation–performance sensitivity in China?

Abstract

Based on a the micro dataset set of private Chinese-listed companies, this study examines the in detail the impact of hometown connections between chief executive officers (CEOs) and chairmen on CEO compensation–performance sensitivity. The empirical results suggest that a hometown connection prompts both the chairman and the CEO to pay more attention to their reputations, which improves CEO compensation–performance sensitivity. This hometown effect is more pronounced when the hometown culture is strong and the degree of marketization is high. The mechanism test reveals that an externally hierd CEO strengthens the influence of a hometown connection on CEO compensation–performance sensitivity, however, this influence weakens with increasing CEO tenure. Overall, this study enriches the literature on informal institutions and compensation contracts and provides valuable insights for company managers and policymakers in emerging markets.