The agency problem is pervasive in our society. It is not just evident in business. It also exists in clubs, government agencies, churches, and many other types or organization.
Types of Agency Problem:
The objective of management may differ from those of the firm’s stockholders. Stockholders want to maximize the wealth of the firm, but management wants to increases their personal benefits.
From this conflict of the proprietor and personal goals, wake what has been called the agency problem. Famous writer James C. Van Horne remarks three types of agency problem in his book. “Financial Management and Policy.” Those problems are discussed below:
Stockholders versus manager:
In
It allows the firm to rent professional managers. But it also brings problems if the managers may seek a more leisurely or luxurious working
Stockholders versus creditors:
In addition to the agency conflict between stockholders and managers, there is a second class of agency conflicts-those between creditors and stockholders. Creditors have the primary claim on part of the firm’s earnings in the form of interest and principal payments on
The stockholders, however, hold down control of the operating decisions (through the firm’s managers) that affect the firm’s cash flows and their corresponding risks. Creditors lend capital to the firm at rates that are arisen on the riskiness of the firm’s existing assets and on the firm’s existing capital structure of debt and equity financing, as well as on expectations regarding changes in the riskiness of these two variables.
The shareholders, acting through management, have an incentive to induce the firm to take on new projects that have a greater risk than was expected by the firm’s creditors. The increased risk will raise the required rate of return on the firm’s debt, which
If the risky capital investment project is effective, all of the benefits will go to the firm’s stockholders. Because the bondholders, returns are fixed at the main low-risk rate. If the project fails, however, the bondholders are forced to share in losses. Such conflicts between shareholders and creditors create agency problem.
Stockholders versus other stakeholders:
Other stakeholders-employees, suppliers, customers, and
AS for example, owners want to pay inadequate salary and allowances, but employees want to increase their salary and allowances to a sufficient level. Similarly, customers want to buy goods at