Duration models are often concerned with time intervals between trades, longer durations indicating a lack of trading activities. In this thesis, we study parameter estimation for the Autoregressive Conditional Duration (ACD) and Stochastic Conditional Duration (SCD) models. Maximum likelihood methods can usually be used in the case of ACD models. However, the SCD models are based on the assumption that durations are generated by a dynamic stochastic latent variable which is often perturbed by Exponential, Weibull, Gamma or Log-Normal distributed innovations. This makes the use of maximum likelihood methods difficult. One alternative method of parameter estimation, in this case, consists in using quasi-maximum likelihood after transforming the original nonlinear model into a state-space model and using the Kalman filter, a similar filtering scheme or the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). We use the nonlinear filter and GMM method to analyze the Quadratic Stochastic Conditional duration model as well.

Duration models are often concerned with time intervals between trades, longer durations indicating a lack of trading activities. In this thesis, we study parameter estimation for the Autoregressive Conditional Duration (ACD) and Stochastic Conditional Duration (SCD) models. Maximum likelihood methods can usually be used in the case of ACD models. However, the SCD models are based on the assumption that durations are generated by a dynamic stochastic latent variable which is often perturbed by Exponential, Weibull, Gamma or Log-Normal distributed innovations. This makes the use of maximum likelihood methods difficult. One alternative method of parameter estimation, in this case, consists in using quasi-maximum likelihood after transforming the original nonlinear model into a state-space model and using the Kalman filter, a similar filtering scheme or the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). We use the nonlinear filter and GMM method to analyze the Quadratic Stochastic Conditional duration model as well.

This paper discusses capital structure theories, with special attention to partial-adjustment model. Strategic waiting theory of IPO firms and its relation to market timing theory are also discussed. Two empirical tests related to capital structure theory are included. First one is a test on the relation between a firm’s strategic waiting behavior in IPO market and its stock return. Second one is on the relation of a firm’s strategic waiting behavior in IPO market and its subsequent capital structure decision.

公司面臨資金需求而選擇由發行新股的方式辦理增資後，投資人將以低於市價的價格申購，本文旨在探討現金增資股票折價的影響因子，使用最小平方法及一般動差法評估，以季資料做為實證分析，樣本期間為2001年1月1日起2009年12月31日止，共688個樣本點，本研究結果如下：(一)平均折價幅度為1.21美元，股價在宣告日當天，宣告價格和當日股價的報酬率約為5.6%，從文獻資料顯示1977年開始，現金增資的折價幅度與時俱增。(二)宣告日前一天的股價、保留盈餘、每股報酬、每股資本報酬、折舊以及發行六項變數具有統計上的顯著效果。 / When a company has money deficit, it may raises capital by issuing stocks. Investors buy those stocks with lower price. This paper investigates NYSE and Nasdaq stocks’ quarterly data from Jan.1, 2001 to Dec. 31, 2009. We use general moment method (GMM) to estimate the equation. The empirical results suggest: (1) The stock discount rate is increasing over time compared to prior researches. The average discount rate is 5.6%. (2) The stock price prior to claim day, earnings retention rate, return on average assets, return on average equity, depreciation and issue amount have statistically significant influences.

本文研究 1996 至2001 年間，894 家美國上市公司之現金增資活動及現金增資執行率之影響因子。除了重要財務會計指標，如：每股盈餘、本益比與市值之外，本研究也將增資期間的股價波動程度納入迴歸模型中。又，考量到變數間的同質性與內生性問題，本研究採用一般動差估計法估計模型參數。結果顯示，增資規模、流通在外股數的變化與公司市值對於現金增資執行率具有統計上顯著的影響力。 / This paper investigates the 894 seasoned equity offerings filed by American listed corporations from 1996 to 2001 in an attempt to identify the key determinants that may affect the execution rate of seasoned equity offerings. The impacts of share price fluctuations during offering periods and other accounting characters are also taken into consideration. Apart from the ordinary least square method, the general method of moments is applied in order to account for heteroskedasticity and endogeneity problems. The results show that total offer amount, changes in shares outstanding and market capitalization have a significant impact on determining the execution rates of seasoned equity offering.

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Tournament theory shows that a firm may motivate employees by running competitors for rewards either for a group or individualistic schemes. The empirical literature on Tournaments has been grown. However, many studies use no appropriate data. This paper provides the first empirical evidence on three key assumptions in these models using a special case surrounding the incentives for workers in public sector. The dataset contains information from the Coordenacao de Fiscalizacao (i.e., the Inspections Division) of the Secretaria da Receita Federal (SRF) on the bonus program created by the Brazilian government to compensate tax officials for their efforts in collecting taxes and uncovering tax violations. We constructed a larger unbalanced panel data Tax collection containing information upon 110 tax agencies distributed between 10 regions and 45 time period by month, which allowed us to support the predictions raised above. In order to examine the tournaments predictions we emphasize the dynamic of the process taking into account the unobserved heterogeneity and endogeneity problems using appropriate GMM techniques. This enable us to pondered the possible inertia for time adjustments within tax agency, possibly in determining strategies to improve the tax agency performance on the sources most valuable for collection, which supports the hypothesis of learning by doing. The results also demonstrated evidence to support the following tournaments hypothesis: (1) prizes motivate agents to exert effort; (2) number of participants increased as the size of the prize increase; (3) differential in wages and bonus directly affect workers incentives.

The rapid growth of financial markets and the increasing diffusion of corporate ownership have placed tremendous emphasis on the effectiveness of corporate governance in resolving agency conflicts within the firm. This study investigates the corporate governance and firm performance/failure relation by implementing various econometric modelling methods to disaggregate causal relations and spurious correlations. Using a panel dataset of Australian firms, a comprehensive suite of corporate governance mechanisms are considered; including the ownership, remuneration, and board structures of the firm. Initial ordinary least squares (OLS) and fixed-effects panel specifications report significant causal relations between various corporate governance measures and firm outcomes. However, the dynamic generalised method of moments (GMM) results indicate that no causal relations exist when taking into account the effects of simultaneity, dynamic endogeneity, and unobservable heterogeneity. Moreover, these results remain robust when accounting for the firm??s propensity for fraud. The findings support the equilibrium theory of corporate governance and the firm, suggesting that a firm??s corporate governance structure is an endogenous characteristic determined by other firm factors; and that any observed relations between governance and firm outcomes are spurious in nature. Chapter 2 examines the corporate governance and firm performance relation. Using a comprehensive suite of corporate governance measures, this chapter finds no evidence of a causal relation between corporate governance and firm performance when accounting for the biases introduced by simultaneity, dynamic endogeneity, and unobservable heterogeneity. This result is consistent across all firm performance measures. Chapter 3 explores the corporate governance and likelihood of firm failure relation by implementing the Merton (1974) model of firm-valuation. Similarly, no significant causal relations between a firm??s corporate governance structure and its likelihood of failure are detected when accounting for the influence of endogeneity on the parameter estimates. Chapter 4 re-examines the corporate governance and firm performance/failure relation within the context of corporate fraud. Using KPMG and ASIC fraud databases, the corporate governance and firm outcome relations are estimated whilst accounting for the firms?? vulnerability to corporate fraud. This chapter finds no evidence of a causal relation between corporate governance and firm outcomes when conditioning on a firm??s propensity for fraud.

The rapid growth of financial markets and the increasing diffusion of corporate ownership have placed tremendous emphasis on the effectiveness of corporate governance in resolving agency conflicts within the firm. This study investigates the corporate governance and firm performance/failure relation by implementing various econometric modelling methods to disaggregate causal relations and spurious correlations. Using a panel dataset of Australian firms, a comprehensive suite of corporate governance mechanisms are considered; including the ownership, remuneration, and board structures of the firm. Initial ordinary least squares (OLS) and fixed-effects panel specifications report significant causal relations between various corporate governance measures and firm outcomes. However, the dynamic generalised method of moments (GMM) results indicate that no causal relations exist when taking into account the effects of simultaneity, dynamic endogeneity, and unobservable heterogeneity. Moreover, these results remain robust when accounting for the firm??s propensity for fraud. The findings support the equilibrium theory of corporate governance and the firm, suggesting that a firm??s corporate governance structure is an endogenous characteristic determined by other firm factors; and that any observed relations between governance and firm outcomes are spurious in nature. Chapter 2 examines the corporate governance and firm performance relation. Using a comprehensive suite of corporate governance measures, this chapter finds no evidence of a causal relation between corporate governance and firm performance when accounting for the biases introduced by simultaneity, dynamic endogeneity, and unobservable heterogeneity. This result is consistent across all firm performance measures. Chapter 3 explores the corporate governance and likelihood of firm failure relation by implementing the Merton (1974) model of firm-valuation. Similarly, no significant causal relations between a firm??s corporate governance structure and its likelihood of failure are detected when accounting for the influence of endogeneity on the parameter estimates. Chapter 4 re-examines the corporate governance and firm performance/failure relation within the context of corporate fraud. Using KPMG and ASIC fraud databases, the corporate governance and firm outcome relations are estimated whilst accounting for the firms?? vulnerability to corporate fraud. This chapter finds no evidence of a causal relation between corporate governance and firm outcomes when conditioning on a firm??s propensity for fraud.

This thesis analyzes the impact of redistributive policies on economic perfomance of European Union member states. First part includes summary of potential theoretic channels of impact of redistibution on economic perfomance. Second part's focus is on redistributive processes in actual member state's economic policies. Third part offers econometric analysis of impact of redistribution on economic growth. Fourth part includes discussion of analysis result and recommendation for actual economic policy. Last section is conclusion.