We examine to what extent institutional frictions such as short-sale constraints deter entry into informational arbitrage ex ante and reduce informational efficiency ex post. We focus on small arbitrageurs who target hard-to-short companies with correspondingly high potential for overvaluation....

We document the existence of a strategy designed to circumvent limits to arbitrage. Faced with short-sale constraints and noise trader risk, small arbitrageurs publicly reveal their information to induce the target's shareholders (the longs) to sell, thereby accelerating price discovery. Using...

We study the efficiency of capital allocations at state-controlled and privately owned business groups in China. Using highly granular data on within-group capital transfers, we document stark differences: while private groups allocate more capital to units with better investment opportunities,...

We solve a dynamic Kyle model in which the large investor's private information concerns her plans for taking an active role in governance. We show that once a block has been created, its continued existence is jeopardized by an increase in the liquidity of the firm's stock. Greater liquidity...

We document how gathering ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ information helps boards of directors to learn a CEO’s ability over time; test under what circumstances boards fire CEOs; and show that such interventions lead to improved firm performance. Our empirical design exploits detailed hard...