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Journal of Accounting and Economics Vol. 17 No. 1-2 1994

Compensation policies and financial characteristics of real estate investment trusts

Joseph H. Golec

Clark University

Abstract

This study shows real estate investment trusts' (REITs) characteristics and compensation incentives vary with compensation method. Formula-based compensation encourages advisors to generate cash from their assets, whereas discretion-based compensation encourages cash conservation. Consequently, dividend yields are 82 percent of formula REITs' total returns, but only 33 percent of discretion REITs'. Partly due to REITs switching from formula-based to discretion-based compensation, the number of discretion REITs has grown while the number of formula REITs has declined. Average formula REIT return performance is inferior and switches tend to follow a period of poor financial performance; performance improves after such changeovers.

DOI
10.1016/0165-4101(94)90009-4
Volume
17
Issue
1-2
Pages
177-205
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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