AGENCY COSTS

A kind of internal cost that either emerges from, or need to be paid to, an agent acting as the principal's representative. Agency costs are due from core problems, the conflict of interest between the management and shareholders is an example. Shareholders wanted the management to operate the company to their favor. Meanwhile, the management may steer the company's growth in ways that will maximize their personal wealth and power which may contradict to the shareholder's best interest.