Economics has much to do with incentives--not least, incentives to work hard, to produce quality products, to study, to invest, and to save. Although Adam Smith amply confirmed this more than two hundred years ago in his analysis of sharecropping contracts, only in recent decades has a theory begun to emerge to place the topic at the heart of economic thinking. In this book, Jean-Jacques Laffont and David Martimort present the most thorough yet accessible introduction to incentives theory to date. Central to this theory is a simple question as pivotal to modern-day management as it is to economics research: What makes people act in a particular way in an economic or business situation? In seeking an answer, the authors provide the methodological tools to design institutions that can ensure good incentives for economic agents. This book focuses on the principal-agent model, the "simple" situation where a principal, or company, delegates a task to a single agent through a contract--the essence of management and contract theory. How does the owner or manager of a firm align the objectives of its various members to maximize profits? Following a brief historical overview showing how the problem of incentives has come to the fore in the past two centuries, the authors devote the bulk of their work to exploring principal-agent models and various extensions thereof in light of three types of information problems: adverse selection, moral hazard, and non-verifiability. Offering an unprecedented look at a subject vital to industrial organization, labor economics, and behavioral economics, this book is set to become the definitive resource for students, researchers, and others who might find themselves pondering what contracts, and the incentives they embody, are really all about.

This book explains Chester Barnard’s management theory clearly, faithfully, and systematically. When Barnard published The Functions of the Executive in 1938, it caused a paradigm shift in the research area of management. He aimed to clarify what executives should do, and how and why, as he argued that executive functions and processes are deeply related to specialization, incentive, authority and communication, decision making, and responsibility and leadership. Thus, The Functions of the Executive is essential reading for management students. This book serves as an introductory guide for undergraduate and graduate students to help them understand Barnard’s management theory. In addition, the book enables researchers to understand how Barnard developed his theory. He accumulated a great amount of experience in managing diverse organizations in both the private and public sectors. Then he gradually shifted his focus from scalar organizations, authority, and vertical communication to lateral organizations, responsibility, and horizontal communication. Finally, this book offers businesspeople helpful insights to create an innovative style of management. As a practitioner, Barnard recognized not only the importance of science but also that of art and value. Experienced businesspeople use not only formal knowledge but also their behavioral and personal knowledge, intuition, business sense, value, and executive art to understand the whole situation, balance conflicting factors, and produce creative solutions. Thus, this book also explores the management abilities that businesspeople need to develop.

Economics Has Much To Do With Incentives Not Least, Incentives To Work Hard, To Produce Quality Products, To Study, To Invest, And To Save. Although Adam Smith Amply Confirmed This More Than Two Hundred Years Ago In His Analysis Of Sharecropping Contracts, Only In Recent Decades Has A Theory Begun To Emerge To Place The Topic At The Heart Of Economic Thinking. In This Book, Jean-Jacques Laffont And David Martimort Present The Most Thorough Yet Accessible Introduction To Incentives Theory To Date. Central To This Theory Is A Simple Question As Pivotal To Modern-Day Management As It Is To Economics Research: What Makes People Act In A Particular Way In An Economic Or Business Situation? In Seeking An Answer, The Authors Provide The Methodological Tools To Design Institutions That Can Ensure Good Incentives For Economic Agents.This Book Focuses On The Principal-Agent Model, The Simple Situation Where A Principal, Or Company, Delegates A Task To A Single Agent Through A Contract The Essence Of Management And Contract Theory. How Does The Owner Or Manager Of A Firm Align The Objectives Of Its Various Members To Maximize Profits? Following A Brief Historical Overview Showing How The Problem Of Incentives Has Come To The Fore In The Past Two Centuries, The Authors Devote The Bulk Of Their Work To Exploring Principal-Agent Models And Various Extensions Thereof In Light Of Three Types Of Information Problems: Adverse Selection, Moral Hazard, And Non-Verifiability. Offering An Unprecedented Look At A Subject Vital To Industrial Organization, Labor Economics, And Behavioral Economics, This Book Is Set To Become The Definitive Resource For Students, Researchers, And Others Who Might Find Themselves Pondering What Contracts, And The Incentives They Embody, Are Really All About.This Special Low-Priced Edition Is For Sale In India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan And Sri Lanka Only.

Agency Theory is a new branch of economics which focusses on the roles of information and of incentives when individuals cooperate with respect to the utilisation of resources. Basic approaches are coming from microeco nomic theory as well as from risk analysis. Among the broad variety of ap plications are: the many designs of contractual arrangements, organiza tions, and institutions as well as the manifold aspects of the separation of ownership and control so fundamental for business finance. After some twenty years of intensive research in the field of information economics it might be timely to present the most basic issues, questions, models, and applications. This volume Agency Theory, Information, and Incentives offers introductory surveys as well as results of individual rese arch that seem to shape that field of information economics appropriately. Some 30 authors were invited to present their subjects in such a way that students could easily become acquainted with the main ideas of informa tion economics. So the aim of Agency Theory, Information, and Incentives is to introduce students at an intermediate level and to accompany their work in classes on microeconomics, information economics, organization, management theory, and business finance. The topics selected form the eight sections of the book: 1. Agency Theory and Risk Sharing 2. Information and Incentives 3. Capital Markets and Moral Hazard 4. Financial Contracting and Dividends 5. External Accounting and Auditing 6. Coordination in Groups 7. Property Rights and Fairness 8. Agency Costs.

This book examines incentives at work to see how and how well coordination is achieved by motivating individual decision makers.

Based on their work in the application of principal-agent theory to questions of regulation, Laffont and Tirole develop a synthetic approach to this field, focusing on the regulation of natural monopolies such as military contractors, utility companies and transportation authorities.

The economics of asymmetric information has been the most important new tool of economic analysis and has proved powerful in explaining many aspects of the functioning of the economy. This anthology brings together every major paper in the field.