We investigate the relationship between a firm’s measures of corporate governance, macroeconomic uncertainty and changes in leverage. Recent research highlights the role of governance in financing decisions. Previous research also indicates that macroeconomic uncertainty affects a firm’s ability to borrow. In this paper we investigate how both these channels of influence affects firms’ financin...

The article examines internal diversity within national models of capitalism in Europe, with a particular concern with firm financing and corporate governance patterns. It is suggested that a relatively small number of firms have shifted to a new institutional context consisting of common international institutions and practices, while the large majority of firms continue to operate in a more s...

We analyze the importance of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) monitoring to equity pricing in U.S. public firms. Our strong, robust evidence from large samples implies that equity financing is cheaper when the threat of an IRS audit is higher, enabling investors to learn more about the firm. Reflecting its first-order economic impact, our coefficient estimates translate into the cost of equity ca...

This article deals with the usefulness of neuronal networks in the area of corporate finance. Firstly, we highlight the initial applications of neural networks. One can distinguish two main types: layer networks and self organizing maps. As Altman al. (1994) underlined, the use of layer networks has improved the reclassifying rate in models of bankruptcy forecasting. These first applications im...

We develop a dynamic tradeoff model to examine the importance of manager-shareholder conflicts in capital structure choice. In the model, firms face taxation, refinancing costs, and liquidation costs. Managers own a fraction of the firms’ equity, capture part of the free cash flow to equity as private benefits, and have control over financing decisions. Using data on leverage choices and the mo...

CONTEXT Although Papua New Guinea (PNG) has made some progress in social development over the past 30 years, the country's Human Development Index has slowed in recent years, placing it below the regional average. In 2012, the estimated HIV prevalence for adults aged 15-49 years was 0.5% and an estimated 25,000 people were living with HIV. Although reduced from previous estimates, the country's...

A rapidly growing literature on the financing of distressed companies finds that troubled firms often secure relief from stress through asset restructuring, capital restructuring, or both. However, none of the earlier corporate distress restructuring studies have focused on the centrally important commercial banking industry which has been one of the most financially distressed industries of th...

We show real effects of financial reporting transparency on the domestic banking sector. Transparent financial reporting facilitates non-financial firms’ access to arm’s-length financing from external capital markets and foreign banks. This diminishes non-financial firms’ reliance on domestic banks for their financial services. Domestic banks thus face increased competition from the alternate p...

We test whether equity overvaluation affects corporate financing decisions using an ex ante misvaluation measure that filters firm scale and growth prospects from market price. We find that equity issuance and total financing by firms increase with equity overvaluation; but only among overvalued stocks. Also consistent with behavioral theories, we find that the sensitivity of equity issuance to...