This paper examines the desirability of having an interim performance evaluation (IPE) in the design of an optimal contract. While enabling the principal to plan and control the project process better, the IPE may also adversely affect the agent's morale in case of unfavorable IPE outcome....

We study the optimal compensation contract in a dynamic moral hazard setting with limited liability and two stages of production. At the end of the first stage, both an objective signal (publicly observed) and a subjective signal (privately observed by the principal) realize, and they are...