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An ill wind? Terrorist attacks and CEO compensation

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Dai, Y 
Stouraitis, A 
Tan, W 

Abstract

Using multiple measures of attack proximity, we show that CEOs employed at firms located near terrorist attacks earn an average pay increase of 12% after the attack relative to CEOs at firms located far from attacks. CEOs at terrorist attack-proximate firms prefer cash-based compensation increases (e.g., salary and bonus) over equity-based compensation (e.g., options and stocks granted). The effect is causal and it is larger when the bargaining power of the CEO is high. Other executives and workers do not receive a terrorist attack premium.

Description

Keywords

Terrorist attacks, Executive compensation, Compensation structure, CEO labor market, Nonmonetary compensation

Journal Title

Journal of Financial Economics

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0304-405X

Volume Title

135

Publisher

Elsevier