Finance
Agency costs refer to the expenses incurred due to conflicts of interest between parties in a principal-agent relationship, such as between shareholders and management. These costs arise when managers do not act in the best interest of the shareholders, leading to inefficiencies that can diminish the value of the firm. Understanding agency costs is crucial in assessing optimal capital structure decisions and evaluating how financial policies can align the interests of different stakeholders.
congrats on reading the definition of agency costs. now let's actually learn it.