We present a novel source of disagreement grounded in decision theory: ambiguity aversion. We show that ambiguity aversion generates endogenous disagreement between a firm's insider and outside shareholders, creating a new rationale for corporate governance systems. In our paper, optimal...

The critical role played by financial institutions in the recent financial crises has generated renewed interest on the corporate finance of the banking firm and the impact of the banking sector on the real economy. This paper introduces the special issue of the Review of Financial Studies...

This paper studies mergers between competing firms and shows that while such mergers reduce the level of product market competition, they may have an adverse effect on employee incentives to innovate. In industries where value creation depends on innovation and development of new products,...

This paper develops a dynamic rational expectations model of the credit rating process, incorporating three critical elements of this industry: (i) the rating agencies' ability to misreport the issuer's credit quality, (ii) their ability to issue unsolicited ratings, and (iii) their reputational...

We study a multidivisional firm where headquarters are exposed to moral hazard by division managers under uncertainty (or "ambiguity") aversion. We show the aggregation and linearity results of Holmström and Milgrom (1987) hold in an environment with IID ambiguity, as in Chen and Epstein...

We develop a theory of innovation waves, investor sentiment, and merger activity based on Knightian uncertainty. Uncertainty-averse investors are more optimistic on an innovation when they can make contemporaneous investments in multiple uncertain projects. Innovation waves occur when there is a...

This paper investigates the optimal size and scope of a Venture Capitalist's (VC's) portfolio. We consider a VC who chooses the number of start-ups to invest in his portfolio. In our model, both the VC's and the entrepreneurs' inputs are necessary for the success of the project, making their...

This paper investigates the optimal size and scope of a Venture Capitalist's (VC's) portfolio. We consider a VC who chooses the number of start-ups to invest in his portfolio. In our model, both the VC's and the entrepreneurs' inputs are necessary for the success of the project, making their...

We analyze firms' choice between exchanges to list their equity (including multiple listings), and exchanges' choice of listing standards for firms which apply for listing, in an environment of competition and co-operation among exchanges. We model an equity market characterized by asymmetric...

This paper investigates the interaction between synergies and internal agency conflicts that emerges endogenously in multi-division firms. We model internal agency activities as entrenchment: to avoid personal costs, a divisional manager can reduce the likelihood of her division being divested...