Do Golden Parachutes Spur Innovation in Concentrated-Ownership Corporations

Abstract

This paper provides highly significant evidence that golden parachutes spur innovation in concentrated-ownership corporations and State-Owned-Enterprises (SOEs). Taking advantage of China's institutional features, we find that golden parachutes lead to higher levels of innovation quantity and quality through a risk-taking mechanism. The positive effects of parachutes on innovation are more pronounced when ownership concentration increases for SOEs, as well as when ownership concentration decreases for non-SOEs. We establish causality with two novel instrumental variables – executive lawyer alumni connection and law firm density around headquarter.