This paper uses a quasi-experimental framework provided by recent changes in Russian corporate law to study the effect of investor protection on the value of shares. The legal change analyzed involves the empowerment of preferred (non-voting) shareholders to veto unfavorable changes in their...

This paper uses a quasi-experimental framework provided by recent changes in Russian corporate law to study the effect of investor protection on the value of shares. The legal change analyzed involves the empowerment of preferred (non-voting) shareholders to veto unfavorable changes in their...

Decline in confidence in free market mechanisms in the past decade has provoked an increase in interest in regulatory issues. This paper seeks to answer one question: Are exchange listing rules an effective screening mechanism? Using a sample of IPO firms listing on major U.S. exchanges in...

Divergence of opinion causes market prices to differ from intrinsic values. Greater divergence of opinion results in larger bid/ask spreads. This study utilizes Miller's theory (Miller, 1977) which states that differences between bid and ask prices (price spread) is caused by divergence of...

We examine the impact of mutual fund ownership on stock price informativeness in China. Existing evidence shows that stock price informativeness is low in China, and attributes this to firms' lack of disclosure incentives under the weak investor protection institutional environment. Mutual funds...

We find that units are more likely to adopt poisonpills at the time of a spinoff if their parents have anti-takeover provisions in place. In addition, the probability that a spinoff unit adopts a poisonpill is negatively related to outside block ownership, but positively related to the size of...

We examine the impact of state ownership on share price informativeness by using the unique setting of the Split Share Structure Reform in China. This reform abolishes the trading restriction of shares held mainly by state shareholders, which in turn renders their wealth more sensitive to share...

Whereas the agency theory predicts that dual-class shares decrease firm performance, the stewardship theory predicts that dual-class shares increase firm performance. The cumulative findings on the performance consequences of dual-class shares have been weak and/or inconclusive. Because...

In 2008, share prices on U.S. stock markets fell further than they had during any one year since the 1930s. Does this mean corporate governance “failed”? This paper argues “no”, based on a study of a sample of companies at “ground zero” of the stock market meltdown, namely the 37...

We examine the impact of corporate board reforms around the world on stock price crash risk. Using a sample of firms in 41 economies that passed major board reforms between 1990 and 2012, we find that board reforms are associated with a significant reduction in crash risk of about 13%. The...