Bankers’ remuneration reforms and new challenges

Ania Zalewska

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

6 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Research Question/Issue: The desire to structure bankers' remuneration in a way that it is risk sensitive and aligned with the long-term incentives of their institutions was at the center of the post Global Financial Crisis (GFC) regulatory reforms. A decade later, it is unclear whether the reforms achieved what they were intended for and whether they have resulted in some unintended consequences. The issue of unintended consequences is particularly important given that the banking sector needs to embrace technological innovation (Fintech) and the sustainable banking agenda. Research Findings/Insights: We are still far from understanding the real costs and benefits of the remuneration reforms because it is difficult to isolate the impact of remuneration restrictions from the impact other regulations and policies had on restricting risk taking, banking structures and bonus culture. However, even if it is questionable whether the remuneration reforms contributed significantly towards improving the stability of the banking sector, they seem unsuitable for promoting Fintech and the sustainable banking agenda. Theoretical/Academic Implications: The post-GFC remuneration reforms may not sufficiently align bankers with stakeholders' interests which is essential to promote adoption of Fintech and sustainable banking agenda. Practitioner/Policy Implications: The lack of in-depth understanding of the effects of the remuneration reforms creates a barrier to understand the impact of the reforms on how banks innovate to adopt Fintech and the sustainable banking agenda. If the existing remuneration regulation limits the openness to innovation and strategic change, then the regulation needs to be revisited and modified.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)161-177
Number of pages17
JournalCorporate Governance: An International Review
Volume31
Issue number1
Early online date1 May 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Jan 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
I would like to thank the Editors, Professors Konstantinos Stathopoulos and Niels Hermes, anonymous reviewers, and Professors Mohamed Azzim and Paul Grout for their invaluable comments and suggestions. I would also like to acknowledge financial support of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) PTDC/IIM‐FIN/7188/2014 and acknowledge that this article is based upon work from COST Action 19130, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), www.cost.eu .

Keywords

  • Fintech
  • banking
  • bonuses
  • clawback
  • climate change
  • corporate governance
  • malus
  • regulation
  • remuneration
  • risk taking
  • sustainability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Business,Management and Accounting
  • Strategy and Management
  • Management of Technology and Innovation

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