This paper analyzes whether political connections of the boards of directors of publicly traded companies in the United States affect the allocation of government procurement contracts. It focuses on the change in control of both House and Senate following the 1994 election and finds that...

In countries with a weak legal system and a high level of corruption it has been shown that political connections are valuable to a corporation. This paper explores whether political connections are also important in the U.S., which has well-developed financial markets as well as a strong legal...

This paper examines the results of 93 discriminatory German Treasury auctions between 1998 and 2002. It documents the seller’s use of discretion and its influence on auction outcomes and bidding strategies. The evidence suggests that the seller uses its discretion frequently and substantially....

In the first chapter of my dissertation I study the costs and benefits of resource allocation by firms and by markets. When a firm forms a market closes. Resources that were previously allocated via the price system are now allocated by managerial authority. We explore the choice of...

When a firm forms a market closes. Resources that were previously allocated via the price system are allocated by managerial authority within the firm. We explore this choice of organizational form using a model of price formation in which agents negotiate prices on behalf of their principals...

When a firm forms a market closes. Resources that were previously allocated via the price system are allocated by managerial authority within the firm. We explore this choice of organizational form using a model of price formation in which agents negotiate prices on behalf of their principals...

Takeover defenses are generally viewed as a tool used by entrenched managers to prevent raiders from taking over the firm. As a consequence, activist groups interested in governance reform have recently been arguing for the elimination of such defenses. In this paper we analyze the value impact...

This paper develops an agency model in which stock-based compensation is a double-edged sword, inducing managers to exert productive effort but also inducing managers to divert valuable firm resources to misrepresent performance. We examine how the potential for manipulation affects the...