We document a positive association between political uncertainty and accounting conservatism. In the year prior to a U.S. presidential election, on average, accounting conservatism increases by nearly 20 percent. This election year effect is stronger when the election is closer, when the...

The paper first investigates the causes of the recent financial and liquidity crisis in the US and all over the world as a preliminary phase of the imminent recession. It then questions Paulson-Bernanke’s plan as a solution to the crisis and ponders over the differences between EU plan and the...

An adequate rate of return on capital yielded by the regulated firms is a central issue related to the new cost-based approach adopted by the Brazilian Telecommunication Regulatory Agency (Anatel). In this context, careful attention must be given to the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)...

In view of recent corporate scandals, it is argued that corporate governance can learn from public governance. Institutions devised to control and discipline the behaviour of executives in the political sphere can give new insights into how to improve the governance of firms. Some proposal such...

One of the fundamental principles of the bank activity is prudence. This principle manifest on one hand in substance of the reglementations regarding bank activity at national, european and international level and, on the other hand, in operational activity of each bank institution and, implicit...

In this paper we discuss the several aspects involved in the determination of the cost of capital of the telecommunications industry in Brazil. The cost of capital determination for regulated industries is extremely important, both to regulators and firms, since through the pertinent rate of...

The cost of capital determination for regulated industries is extremely important, both to regulators and firms, since through the pertinent rate of return it becomes possible to maintain the sustainability and expansion of the public service. The attractiveness of investments to infrastructure...

The current methodology adopted by the Aneel to estimate the rate of return (cost of capital) applied in the periodic tariff revision is improved via some modifications in the following parameters: country risk, exchange rate risk and regulatory risk. We recommend the global CAPM methodology...

This paper examines the optimal design and consequences of financial disclosure regulation. Our model represents the regulation as creating a real option for an investor to delay investment until information is disclosed. We find conditions on investment opportunities that ensure that regulation...