This paper examines, in a Canadian context, the effect of short sales regulation on the risk-return relationship. It shows that, theoretically, the opportunity cost induced by short sales regulation is positively related to the dispersion of agents' beliefs and negatively related to the...

Private placements provided by institutional or individual accredited investors are becoming an important financing tool for small public firms worldwide. However, private placement issuers offer poor average returns. We explain this puzzle using 2,987 traditional private placements by Canadian...

<title>Abstract</title> This article analyses the QBIC programme introduced in Quebec to help capitalize SMEs. Taxpayers that invest in holding companies that finance one or more growth corporations receive substantial tax credits. Companies financed by this programme are apparently of mediocre quality. After...

<title>Abstract</title> This exploratory study attempts to estimate the external financing costs (EFCs) for a sample of new technology-based firms (NTBFs). A large body of literature describes the constraints these companies face when trying to obtain outside equity from venture capitalists or...

In just several years, Israel developed a strong venture capital industry that places it among the top countries in terms of capital-GDP ratio. The strategy of the Israeli government was twofold. First, the government strongly stimulated the demand for venture capital, using R&D grants,...