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The self-serving management hypothesis

Journal of Accounting and Economics 1985 7(1-3), 67-84
Managers of conglomerates are hypothesized to effect firm-enlarging actions that yield greater remuneration for them but losses for shareholders. This hypothesis is tested by examining the gains and losses to senior managers and shareholders of twenty-nine large conglomerates from 1970 through 1975. The data reveal that the average manager's annual gains and losses from changes in stock returns far exceeded his remuneration. Furthermore, top managers of conglomerates where stock returns decreased left their positions more frequently than did the officers of the other conglomerates. These findings are inconsistent with the self-serving managerial hypothesis as it usually is stated.