Cost Stickiness and Top Executive Performance Evaluation in Central Enterprises in China

摘要

2004-2006 is the first performance evaluation period to the top executives in the central state owned enterprises. In this study we test the changes of cost stickiness during 2001 to 2006 of the listed companies of the central SOEs. We investigate the effect of the performance evaluation launched by SASAC. We find selling and administrative costs arc stickiness in central SOEs. By comparing the variation of selling and administrative costs with revenue in 2001-2003 and 2004-2006, we find selling and administrative costs exhibit less stickiness during 2004-2006. Our conclusions include: (1) The cost stickiness exists in central enterprises; (2) The performance evaluation system launched by SASAC has positive effect on cost stickiness. Our contribution is the finding of the role of performance evaluation to the cost stickiness in central SOEs. The research conclusion is helpful to improve the efficiency of cost and management in the central enterprises.