Based on a difference-in-differences approach, we find strong evidence that the initial enforcement of insider trading laws improves capital allocation efficiency. The effect is concentrated in developed markets and manifests shortly after the enforcement year. Cross-sectional analyses show that...

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...

PurposeThe authors examine the joint effect of the country-wide legal institutions and product market competition on stock crash risk in a large sample of international firms.Design/methodology/approachIn the study, the authors examine whether the country-level institutional factors affect...