We experimentally demonstrate a causal link between recordkeeping and reciprocal exchange. Recordkeeping improves memory of past interactions in a complex exchange environment, which promotes reputation formation and decision coordination. Economies with recordkeeping exhibit a beneficially...

Intangibles are ideas or knowledge about the natural (physical and biological) and socio-cultural worlds that enable people to better accomplish their goals, both in primitive societies and in modern economies. Intangibles include basic research and technology improvements as well as knowledge...

This paper identifies segment characteristics that made industry segment reporting more useful in equity valuation. Those characteristics are the difference in segments' growth potential, the relative size of segments, and the magnitude of correlation in segment earnings. Usefulness is measured...

Conservatism is interpreted to mean that accountants more frequently report current quot;bad newsquot; about future cash flows in contemporaneous earnings than current quot;good news.quot; Thus, earnings reported under GAAP should be more timely in reporting quot;bad newsquot; about future cash...

We examine the long-run performance of over 17,000 debt renegotiations. We find that, compared with non-renegotiating firms matched on size, book-to-market, profitability, and investment, renegotiating firms, on average, deliver 11 (19) percent higher stock returns over the three (five) years...