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University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Determinants of salary in nonprofit organizations: A study of executive compensation in symphony orchestras

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis presents the development of a demand equation for symphony orchestras and a three equation, simultaneous model examining factors which influence nonprofit executive compensation. Results from the demand equation demonstrate that nonprofit orchestras operate in the inelastic portion of the demand curve. Thus, ticket sales generate negative marginal revenues and attendance is increased at the expense of profit. If total revenue is less than total cost, the orchestra must be subsidized by contributions from private and public sectors. The compensation model indicates that salary is positively correlated with the ability to increase contributions and improve organizational quality. Therefore, administrators seeking to enhance income and marketability would do well to focus their energies on these two critical areas. Additionally, private contributions and quality respond positively to executive pay. Organizations seeking to enhance their reputation by increasing their level of service will bid up the salary of superior managers.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts (MA)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Economics
Grantor dc:publisher
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Year
1992

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Moss, Michael David
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Thomas M. Carroll

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Language dc:language
English

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-1179

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
Base URL
oasis.library.unlv.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Moss, Michael David. Determinants of salary in nonprofit organizations: A study of executive compensation in symphony orchestras. Thesis thesis, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 1992. https://doi.org/10.25669/063q-ugox