Pay-performance sensitivity during the Covid-19 pandemic : Evidence from Sweden

Abstract: This thesis aims to examine what impact the Covid-19 pandemic has on the pay-performance relationship. This study performs an OLS regression analysis of total CEO compensation on accounting and market-based firm performance for 2017-2020 using 233 Swedish listed firms. The results could not find a positive relationship between total CEO compensation and firm performance during 2017-2020. The findings rather indicate that Swedish CEOs are rewarded for failure. Moreover, the results could not find support for a weaker pay-performance sensitivity. These results contribute to the existing research by giving insights into the effects of financial distress on the pay-performance relationship in Sweden.