We study the effects of multi-layered governance on firm risk by focusing on the interaction of two types of career concerns. Two Delaware court decisions, the validation of poison pill defenses (the Unitrin decision) implemented by staggered boards (the Wallace decision), reduced...

We examine the effect of competitive shocks on executive compensation in the pharmaceutical sector. When a pharmaceutical firm receives a breakthrough therapy designation (BTD), its rivals respond by increasing option-based compensation for CEOs and other executives. The rivals also escalate...