This paper examines the link between capital market governance (CMG) and several key measures of market performance. Using detailed data from individual stock exchanges, we develop a composite CMG index that captures three dimensions of security laws: the degree of earnings opacity, the...

Asymmetric volatility refers to the stylized fact that stock volatility is negatively correlated to stock returns. Traditionally, this phenomenon has been explained by the financial leverage effect. This explanation has recently been challenged in favor of a risk premium based explanation. We...

This paper examines the link between capital market governance (CMG) and several key measures of market performance. Using detailed data from individual stock exchanges, we develop a composite CMG index that captures three dimensions of security laws: the degree of earnings opacity, the...

We develop a new, unlevering approach to document how well financial and operating leverage explain volatility asymmetry on a firm-by-firm basis. Volatility asymmetry means that when stock price drops (rises), the volatility of the returns typically increases (decreases). Our evidence, using a...

This paper explores the link between capital market governance and several key characteristics of equity markets. Using detailed data glean from individual stock exchanges, we develop a composite capital market governance measure (CMG index) that captures three dimensions of market regulation...

This article discusses the role of GAAP accounting from an investor's perspective. For all its flaws, a historical-based system of accounting is vital to the investment community, and I believe the moves toward fair value accounting should proceed with great caution. Framing the discussion in...

Using firm-level data from 46 countries, we investigate the relation between corruption – the misuse of public office for private gains – and international corporate values. Our analysis shows that firms from more (less) corrupt countries trade at significantly lower (higher) market...