Case Study: Separation of Ownership and Control

Sometimes it is difficult to understand how some economics concepts can be used in the real world (although with economics, it should be easier to relate that other subjects..) so here is a perfect example of the principal/agent problem.

There seems to be a conflict between what shareholders want and what managers (executives) want at Barclays. At Barclays, £730m was paid out to shareholders last year in contrast to £2.15bn that was paid in bonuses.

Read more here:  http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2132282/Barclays-boss-Bob-Diamond-lose-1-3m-bonuses-bank-attempts-douse-shareholder-rebellion-pay.html 

Read notes on the Principal Agent Problem here.