My dissertation aims to explain a number of empirical findings about valuation and performance of diversified firms using the model of optimal diversification. It contains two chapters. The first chapter of the dissertation proposes a model of optimally diversified firm and shows that the main...

The current National Football League overtime rule favors the team starting on offense. Auctioning off or dividing-and-choosing the starting possession can potentially restore ex post fairness. We find auctions to provide a better outcome when teams have asymmetric information.