November 2010

IZA DP No. 5319: The Public Perception and Normative Valuation of Executive Compensation: An International Comparison

revised version, using updated and expanded data, published as `International Evidence on the Perception and Normative Valuation of Executive Compensation' in: British Journal of Industrial Relations, 2017, 55(1), 112-136

This paper describes individuals' perceptions and normative valuations of executive compensation using comparable survey data for fifteen OECD member countries. An overwhelming majority of individuals (more than 90%) believes that top executives earn more than they actually deserve. However, there is also substantial variation in the actual and ethical levels of executive compensation, both within and across countries. The empirical analysis further shows that subjective estimates of executive pay are associated with objective measures of inequality and redistribution, and that individuals' perceptions and normative valuations of executive compensation are associated with their more general political preferences.