There is considerable evidence that machine learning algorithms have better predictive abilities than humans in various financial settings. But, the literature has not tested whether these algorithmic predictions are more rational than human predictions. We study the predictions of corporate...

This paper studies the predictability of firm profits using Fama-MacBeth regressions and gradient boosting. Gradient boosting can use more relevant factors and it predicts better. Profits are more predictable at firms that are large, investment grade, low R&D, low market-to-book, low cash flow...

In recent years, there have been quite a few attempts to apply intelligent techniques to financial trading, i.e., constructing automatic and intelligent trading framework based on historical stock price. Due to the unpredictable, uncertainty and volatile nature of financial market, researchers...

Using a nationwide restaurant sample, we document that minority-owned businesses are more likely to apply to the Paycheck Protection Program through fintech than traditional lenders. We motivate our analysis by a two-sided matching model where this phenomenon can be generated through "technology...

This paper studies the role of trust in incumbent lenders (banks) as an entry barrier to emerging FinTech lenders in the credit markets. The empirical setting exploits the outburst of the Wells Fargo scandal as a negative shock to the trust in banks. Using a difference-in-differences framework,...

This paper examines the effect of legal bankruptcy protection on small businesses. Using granular agricultural microdata, we use a regression discontinuity design to exploit farm eligibility for a unique bankruptcy code for farms known as Chapter 12. We find that farmers that qualify for this...

This paper examines the inventories of publicly traded American manufacturing companies between 1981 and 2000. The median of inventory holding periods were reduced from 96 days to 81 days. The average rate of inventory reduction is about 2% per year. The greatest reduction was found for...

This paper examines the inventories of publicly traded U.S. retail and wholesale companies between 1981 and 2004. First, we document that inventory holdings have been reduced. The median of wholesale inventory holding periods was reduced from 73 days to 49 days. Retail inventory did not start to...

"This paper examines the relative importance of many factors in the capital structure decisions of publicly traded American firms from 1950 to 2003. The most reliable factors for explaining market leverage are: median industry leverage (+ effect on leverage), market-to-book assets ratio ( - ),...