Default probability plays a central role in the static tradeoff theory of capital structure. We directly test this theory by regressing the probability of default on proxies for costs and benefits of debt. Contrary to predictions of the theory, firms with higher bankruptcy costs, i.e., smaller...

This study examines the influence of institutional environment on capital structure and debt maturity choices by examining a cross-section of firms in 39 developed and developing countries. We find that a country's legal and tax system, the level of corruption and the preferences of capital...

This paper explains why investors are likely to be overconfident and how this behavioral bias affects investment decisions. Our analysis suggests that investor overconfidence can potentially generate stock return momentum and that this momentum effect is likely to be the strongest in those...

We study compound returns to nearly 62,000 global common stocks during the 1990 to 2018 period, documenting that the majority, 56% of US stocks and 61% of non-US stocks, under perform one-month US Treasury bills over the full sample. Focusing on aggregate shareholder wealth creation measured in...

We investigate the pricing of market volatility risk as a risk factor – the innovation risk and as a characteristic risk – the level risk. We find that the pricing of the country-level (local) market volatility risk factor is not robust across 21 developed markets and that the global market...

Illiquidity shocks are negatively associated with future returns. There are two potential explanations: underreaction and illiquidity spiral. We find that negative illiquidity shocks generate upward price continuation, but positive illiquidity shocks lead to initial downward price continuation...

The momentum life cycle (MLC) hypothesis first proposed by Lee and Swaminathan (2000) applies also to global markets. Early-stage strategies significantly outperform the late-stage and conventional strategies in most countries. Individualism culture is positively associated with late-stage but...

Exploiting the staggered establishment of public audit oversight boards (POBs) worldwide and employing a difference-in-differences methodology, we find that patents and patent citations increase significantly following the implementation of public audit oversight. This is especially so in client...