We use a unique dataset of 233 privatized firms from 38 countries between 1985 and 2008 to investigate the relation between shareholder identity and earnings quality. We find strong and robust evidence that (residual) state ownership is associated with lower earnings quality. More specifically,...

Using a unique database of 381 newly privatized firms from 57 countries, we investigate the impact of shareholders' identity on corporate risk-taking behavior. We find strong and robust evidence that state (foreign) ownership is negatively (positively) related to corporate risk-taking. Moreover,...

We use a unique dataset of 233 privatized firms from 38 countries between 1985 and 2008 to investigate the relation between shareholder identity and earnings quality. We find strong and robust evidence that (residual) state ownership is associated with lower earnings quality. More specifically,...

We investigate the control structure of 221 privatized firms from 27 emerging countries over the period 1980 to 2001. Specifically, we examine the determinants of residual state ownership after privatization over a window of up to six years after divestiture. We find that the residual state...

To investigate the control structure of newly privatized firms, we use a unique database of 221 privatized firms operating in 27 emerging countries over the 1980-2001 period. Specifically, we examine the determinants of residual state ownership after privatization over a window of up to six...

We study the determinants of a firm's decision to issue one of the four available ADR programs (Level I, Level II, Level III, and Rule 144A). We find that the firm's attributes (size, income, asset growth, leverage, privatization, ownership structure, and country-of-origin) and the firm's...

Using a two-stage estimation procedure, we examine the determinants of foreign investors' participation in the privatization process of developing countries, with a particular emphasis on the role of the institutional environment. First, we estimate the probability that foreign investors target...

We investigate the impact that the political connections of publicly traded firms have on their performance and financing decisions. Using a long-term event study covering a sample of 234 politically connected firms headquartered in 12 developed and 11 developing countries over the period 1989...

We use a unique dataset of 158 privatized firms from 29 countries between 1987 and 2003 to investigate the political determinants of the cost of equity. We find strong, robust evidence that the cost of equity is increasing in government control, while controlling for other determinants of the...

We investigate the role of ownership structure and investor protection in postprivatization corporate governance. We find that the government relinquishes control over time, mainly to the benefit of local institutions and foreign investors. We also show that private ownership tends to...