Oxygen vacancy levels are monitored during the oxidation of CO by CeO(2-δ) nanorods and Au-CeO(2-δ) nanorods, nanocubes, and nanopolyhedra by using Raman scattering. The first-order CeO(2) F(2g) peak near 460 cm(-1) decreases when this reaction is fast (fast reduction and relatively slow reoxidation of the surface), because of the lattice expansion that occurs when Ce(3+) replaces Ce(4+) during...

This paper investigates the compensation usefulness of accounting variables along several important dimensions (accruals-based vs. cash-flows based, non-return vs. return, and gross vs. net measures), as well as the time series variation of performance measures in CEO bonus plans, using a unique panel of manually collected CEO bonus determinants spanning fiscal years 2006 to 2011. We document t...

Our study extends upper-echelons theory by introducing CEO narcissism as a formal construct for explaining company strategy and performance. Drawing on psychological research indicating that narcissism is a personality dimension, rather than just a pathological disorder, we argue that narcissism in CEOs is positively related to strategic dynamism and grandiosity, and it engenders extreme and vo...

Using hand-collected data, we document the details of the ex-ante severance contract and the ex-post separation pay given to S&P500 CEOs upon departing from their company. We analyze for the determinants of whether or not a departing CEO receives separation pay in excess of her severance contract. This excess separation pay is on average, $8 million, which amounts to close to 242% of a CEO’s an...

A facile and environmentally friendly surface-ion adsorption method using CeCO₃OH@C as template was demonstrated to synthesize CeO₂-LaFeO₃ perovskite composite material. The obtained composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermo-gravimetric a...

Illusory correlation refers to the use of information in decisions that is uncorrelated with the relevant criterion. We document illusory correlation in CEO compensation decisions by demonstrating that information, that is uncorrelated with corporate performance, is related to CEO compensation. We use publicly available data from the USA for the years 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004 to examine the r...

We empirically examine how governance structure affects the design of executive compensation contracts and, in particular, the implicit weights of firm performance measures in CEO compensation. We find that compensation contracts in firms with higher takeover protection and where the CEO has more influence on governance decisions put more weight on accounting-based measures of performance (retu...

The overall independence of a firm’s governance system depends not only on the independence of its board of directors but also on CEO influence over the other top executives. We find that board independence and independence from CEO influence in the executive suite are inversely related. Difference-in-difference estimates using a regulatory shock reveal that strengthening board independence wea...

This research had investigated ownership structure and its impact on CEO compensation system in TSX/S&P and NYSE indexes companies from the period 2005 to 2010. The totaled of two hundred and forty companies were selected through random sample method. The research question for this study was: is there a relationship between CEO compensation, firm size, accounting firm performance, and corporate...

Responsibility and accountability of CEOs has been a major ethical concern over the past 10 years. Major ethical dilemmas at Enron, Worldcom, AIG, as well as other well-known organizations have been at least partially blamed on CEO malfeasance. Interviews with Ken Lay, CEO of Enron, after his 2006 fraud convictions provides an opportunity to document his perceived role in the demise of Enron. P...