This paper provides empirical evidence on whether the earnings fixation hypothesis can explain the accrual anomaly originally documented in Sloan (1996). Our analytical model yields the prediction that if investors fixate on reported earnings, the effectiveness of the accrual strategy will...

What happens when liquidity increases in credit markets and more funds are channeled from borrowers to lenders? We examine this question in a general equilibrium model where financial matchmakers help borrowers (firms) and lenders (households) search out and negotiate profitable matches and...

In a word, where information is costly, volatile cash flows create information acquisition costs that reduce value. Thus, managers act to reduce their firm's volatility of cash flow in anticipation of higher value for shareholders. However, when managers reduce the firm's cash flow volatility,...

This paper looks at the outsourcing of research and development (Ramp;D) activities. We consider cost reducing Ramp;D and allow manufacturing firms to decide whether to outsource the project to research subcontractors or carry out the research in-house. We use a principal-agent framework and...

This paper analyzes the behavior of two groups of corporate earnings forecasters: analysts, who follow individual company fortunes, and strategists who predict earnings for various company aggregates. Using data for two market indices, the Samp;P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, we find...

This article analyzes the behavior of two groups of corporate earnings forecasters: analysts, who follow individual company fortunes, and market strategists, who predict earnings for various company aggregates. Using data for two market indices, the Samp;P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial...

This research analyzes the recall experience of threeAmerican (Chrysler, Ford, and GM) and three Japanese (Honda, Nissan, and Toyota) automakers during the period 1973-1992 to provide more conclusive evidence that the stock market imposes a reputation penalty on automakers that produce...