Executive compensation for self-administered firms is defined as cash and quantifiable
perquisites as reported on the proxy statement. Incentive compensation in the form of stock
options is common in self-administered REITs, but during the period in question it is not reported
in a consistent manner and it is therefore excluded. In a survey of REIT compensation practices in
1989, the time-series mid-point of this paper, Lucas (1989) reported that nearly two thirds of the
self-administered REITs provided stock options to their top executives, and all firms provided
them to their top acquisition officer. Lucas (1989, 1991) also found that the employment
arrangements were complex and that incentives typically were based on changes in either the
appraised value of invested assets, changes in net income or cash flow, or on distributions to
shareholders. The range of perquisites offered included automobiles, country club memberships,