The literature disagrees on the link between so-called busy boards (where many independent directors hold multiple board seats) and firm performance. Some argue that busyness certifies a director’s ability and that such directors are value enhancing. Others argue that “over-boarded”...

I examine the role of convenience in the mutual fund industry. I find that investors pay more for relatively convenient funds, and that the flows to convenient funds are less responsive to performance. These findings suggest that investors do not evaluate mutual funds independently, but rather...

Relationships play a central role across the spectrum of real estate transactions. Whether negotiating prices, securing funding, or acquiring permits, knowing the right people provides multiple channels to facilitate deal making. To better understand the role of relationships in real estate...

We examine the director labor market to better understand which director attributes are important for board service. We find that general skills and director connections are valued in the market for directors in that both increase the likelihood of individuals gaining a board seat. Among...

NAV is at the forefront of a policy debate; namely, whether or not money market funds should switch from a fixed $1 to a floating NAV. The supporters of floating NAV argue that this will provide investors with better information regarding the value of the fund's underlying portfolio. However,...