Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/185172 
Year of Publication: 
2018
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 11712
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We investigate how payoff-irrelevant terms can negatively impact relational contracts. In a lab experiment we compare two economically equivalent contracts – a fixed-term renewable and an open-ended at-will contract. Each contract provides partners with full flexibility regarding the length and termination of their interaction. When only one contract type is available, principals and agents in our experiment manage to form long-term profitable relationships irrespective of the contract type. However, when both contracts are available offering a fixed-term instead of an open-ended contract is perceived as unkind and results in lower effort provided by the agents. We show that this observed difference is not a matter of sorting, but a direct response to the contract type. Our results demonstrate that a relational contract might be affected by payoff-irrelevant terms and their perceived kindness.
Subjects: 
contract design
relational contracts
reciprocity
trust
JEL: 
C92
K12
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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