Manager-Investor Conflicts in Mutual Funds

39 Pages Posted: 26 Mar 2004

See all articles by Paul G. Mahoney

Paul G. Mahoney

University of Virginia School of Law

Abstract

Half of all of U.S. households own shares in one or more mutual funds, either directly or through personal or employer-sponsored retirement accounts. This article describes the structure and regulation of mutual funds and the resulting incentives facing those who make decisions for the funds. After providing some basic institutional details, it focuses on the cash flows from mutual fund investors to fund managers, brokers, and other third parties and the associated conflicts of interest. The article concludes with a summary of recent legal proceedings against mutual fund managers and brokers based on improper trading practices and regulatory proposals to curb those practices.

Keywords: mutual funds, agency costs

JEL Classification: G23, G28, K22

Suggested Citation

Mahoney, Paul G., Manager-Investor Conflicts in Mutual Funds. Journal of Economic Perspectives, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=521422

Paul G. Mahoney (Contact Author)

University of Virginia School of Law ( email )

580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
United States
434-924-7121 (Phone)
434-924-7536 (Fax)

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