Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, a byproduct of carbon-based energy sources, has typically been incorporated as a component of concrete mixes and wallboard and beneficially used as an agricultural amendment to enhance crop production and improve the quality of runoff. These various uses...

We examine the impact of corporate board reforms on firm value in 41 countries. Using a difference-in-differences design, we find that firm value increases after enactment of the reforms. The valuation increase is associated with both the intensity and major components of the reform, including...

We investigate how predatory government policies (expropriation, lack of property rights protection, corruption, crime) interact with managerial incentives in shaping firm governance structure. Our model shows that owners have lower incentives to encourage valuemaximization by managers if the...

We examine the valuation impact of employee-friendly (EF) culture. Using a sample of 3,457 firms from 43 countries for the period 2003 to 2014, we show that firms with a more EF culture have higher valuations (Tobin's q). The impact on valuation stems from improved technical efficiency and...

We examine the impact of the enactment of the Market Abuse Directive (MAD) and the Prospectus Directive (PD) across 18 EU countries on seasoned equity offerings (SEOs). Using a difference-in-differences methodology, we document a significant reduction in earnings management, improved post-SEO...

Using board reforms in 41 countries and staggered difference-in-differences (DiD) estimates, Fauver, Hung, Li, and Taboada (2017, FHLT) find that firm value increases following the reforms. In a study that reviews the recent econometric theory on staggered DiD estimations, Baker, Larcker, and...

Using supervisory data on operational losses from large U.S. bank holding companies (BHCs), we show that BHCs with socially responsible workforce policies suffer lower operational losses per dollar of total assets and incidence of tail risk events. The association is more pronounced for...

We examine the impact of corporate board reforms on firm value in 41 countries. Using a difference-in-differences design, we find that board reforms increase firm value. Reforms involving board and audit committee independence, but not reforms involving separation of chairman and CEO positions,...

Using a sample of 86 counties, we examine the cross-sectional determinants of sovereign credit ratings around the world. We find that the quality of legal and political institutions of a country plays a vital role in determining sovereign credit ratings. A one standard deviation increase in our...

Within the German corporate governance system, labor representation on the supervisory board is common and typically legally mandated. Because labor has detailed knowledge of firm operations, we propose that labor representation on corporate boards brings valuable first-hand operational...