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Formal versus informal monitoring in teams

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>05/2015
<mark>Journal</mark>American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
Issue number2
Volume7
Number of pages18
Pages (from-to)27-44
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

In this paper we analyze a principal's optimal monitoring strategies in a team environment. In doing so we study the interaction between formal monitoring and informal ( peer) monitoring. We show that if the technology satisfies complementarity, peer monitoring substitutes for the principal's monitoring. However, if the technology satisfies substitution, the principal's optimal monitoring is independent of the peer monitoring. We also show that if the technology satisfies complementarity, then the principal in the optimal contracts will monitor more closely than in the case of substitution.