Negotiating for less

From Inside Higher Ed, the story here of UT Austin’s new president negotiating for less compensation than he was offered. After being offered $1M plus perks for the post, “Fenves negotiated the offer down to $750,000 a year, plus $50,000 in deferred pay. He also asked for a smaller potential bonus, down from 12 percent of base pay to 10 percent.” The story’s expert commentator does not think this is a sign of things to come in executive compensation, but all the same I found it a refreshing change of pace.