This paper examines how the difference in institutional environment across various provinces in China can explain IPO underpricing in the Chinese equity market. Using Chinese IPO data from 1999 to 2007, we find strong evidence that firms located in regions with better institutional environment...

Despite developments of recent theoretical and numerous empirical studies on the policies effectively adopted by companies, the dividend distribution policy (DDP) remains largely unexplained. In this regard, the main purpose of the current study is to empirically examine the effects of both CEO...

A firm's ownership structure influences both its liquidity and value. This paper introduces a new measure of latent investment horizon, a weighted average investment horizon computed from the firm's ownership structure and the average investment horizon of various investor categories. We find...

Large shareholders may affect managerial decisions through the threat of selling their holdings and thereby negatively influencing price. The split-share structure of Chinese corporate ownership imposes restrictions on ownership and shares trading. Using these institutional features, we test the...

Using a large hand-collected sample of all blockholders (ownership ≥ 5%) of S&P 1500 firms for the years 2002–2009, we first document significant individual blockholder effects on earnings management (accrual-based earnings management, real earnings management, and restatements). This...

This paper examines the effect that disproportional ownership has on stock market liquidity using a sample of Chinese listed firms. We find that the controlling shareholders' excess control rights are negatively associated with market liquidity. We also provide evidence to show that the negative...

Empirical studies on the tokenization of real asset markets are necessary to better understand the potential and limitations of this radically new organization of financial markets. We examine the financial economic consequences of the tokenization of 58 residential rental properties in the...

The German Corporate Governance Code works according to the comply-or-explain principle. One of its recommendations was to publish the remuneration of the members of the executive board on an individual basis. We examine the characteristics of the firms that comply with the code requirement. Our...

The legal environment is one important determinant of corporate governance. However, within legal families, also cultural differences can explain the level of corporate governance to some extent. We analyze this relationship for the case of Switzerland. Swiss firms are mainly located in two...

This paper outlines the foundations of corporate governance. The discussion includes a review on the modern corporation, transaction costs theory, agency costs theory, legal investor protection, investor protection by corporate governance and its various mechanisms, as well as an overview of the...