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Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title Strategic transfer pricing with risk averse agents
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Robert Göx
  • Jens Robert Schöndube
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title Schmalenbach Business Review (sbr)
Publisher Schmalenbach-Gesellschaft für Betriebswirtschaft
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 1439-2917
Volume 56
Page Range 98 - 118
Date 2004
Abstract Text In this paper we analyze strategic transfer pricing with risk- and effort-averse divisional managers. In contrast to earlier literature, we find that the existence of a standard agency problem allows transfer pricing to serve as a commitment device even if the transfer prices are not mutually observable. The reason is that transfer prices are set above marginal cost to solve the agency problem and not for strategic purposes. Therefore, delegating the pricing authority to a risk-averse manager implies that he sets a higher product price than does the risk-neutral owner, because at the divisional level the transfer price represents the relevant unit cost for pricing. We show that the optimal scope of managerial authority generally depends on both the risk premium and the intensity of competition in the product market. We also identify conditions under which the delegation of pricing responsibilities to risk-averse managers constitutes a dominant strategy equilibrium.
Free access at DOI
Other Identification Number merlin-id:8233
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