This thesis serves as an introduction and overview of the broad and closely related fields of mechanism design, contract theory, and information economics. Each chapter is intended to provide a self-contained guide to the particular area of application -- examples include adverse selection, moral hazard, and auctions. The reader should benefit from the thesis in two ways: by understanding the general notions of the revelation principle, incentive compatibility, and individual rationality from the mechanism design theory as well as by examining the particular information asymmetry models in the individual areas. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Asymmetric information has crucial implications for various market participants in financial markets, including investors (local and foreign), firms, and governments. The information asymmetry problem is especially severe in emerging markets. My dissertation attempts to address a few information-related questions that interest both academicians and practitioners. The first study adds some new evidence to the on-going debate of whether local or foreign investors are better informed. I offer a new perspective to the issue by examining two market segments within one country but separated by the relevance of local knowledge measured by state ownership. I find that state ownership has a dramatic asymmetric effect on local and foreign institutional investors in China’s stock market. Local (foreign) institutional investors have an informational advantage in state-owned enterprises (SOEs), while foreign institutional investors have an informational advantage in non-state-owned enterprises (non-SOEs). Moreover, the informational advantage of local institutional investors is less evident in SOEs with high board independence and better audit quality. Building on these results, the second study further uses local and foreign institutional ownership as a measure of private information and examines whether firm-specific return volatility proxies for price informativeness. I find firm-specific return volatility is positively related to private information. Therefore the results support the notion that firm-specific return volatility measures the rate of private information impounded into stock prices. My research contributes to the literature in at least four important ways. My findings reconcile the two opposing views on local and foreign investors in the literature and suggest that the informational advantages of local and foreign investors vary with the relevance of local knowledge. Examining only the whole market in past research masks important variation in the relative advantages of local and foreign investors in market segments within a country. My study also suggests that taking into account firm-level characteristics, especially corporate governance measures, can enhance our understanding of the behavior of institutional investors. Additionally I provide some of the first evidence to show that local political institutions can create barriers faced by international investors. Finally, my research confirms the merit of firm-specific return volatility as a measure of price informativeness. Together, these studies provide new insights into research on asymmetric information in emerging markets and have important implications for local and foreign investors, firms, and governments. / Thesis (Ph.D, Management) -- Queen's University, 2011-03-24 19:35:47.788

Em momentos de crises financeiras, problemas decorrentes de assimetrias informacionais são intensificados, prejudicando a canalização de recursos para detentores das melhores oportunidades de investimento, conforme Mishkin (1992). Nesse sentido, crises tendem a intensificar restrições financeiras, podendo impactar investimentos e financiamentos das empresas de formas distintas. Dito isso, este estudo tem por objetivo investigar os impactos de crises financeiras sobre investimentos e financiamentos de empresas brasileiras restritas e não restritas, analisando, especificamente, o impacto da crise do subprime de 2008 e da recente crise de 2015. As empresas foram classificadas em restritas e não restritas segundo dois critérios: interseção entre tamanho e idade e existência ou não de rating, contando com 203 empresas de capital aberto no modelo de investimentos e 192 empresas no modelo de financiamentos. Foram utilizados dados trimestrais entre o primeiro trimestre de 2007 e o terceiro trimestre de 2016, adotando como método a análise de dados em painel. Os resultados indicam que, tanto pelo critério tamanho e idade quanto pelo critério de rating, somente a crise de 2015 impactou, negativamente, os investimentos das empresas, sendo esse impacto maior sobre empresas restritas. Analisando a sensibilidade dos investimentos ao caixa em momentos de contração na oferta de recursos, há indícios de que, pelo critério tamanho e idade, caixa foi mais relevante para as empresas restritas nas crises de 2008 e 2015 em comparação às empresas não restritas, enquanto, pelo critério de rating, somente na crise de 2015. O impacto de crises sobre a alavancagem foi mais evidente pelo critério de rating, em que a crise de 2008 mostrou impacto maior, negativamente, sobre a alavancagem de empresas restritas, acompanhado de um aumento na proporção das dívidas de curto prazo principalmente para essas empresas. A crise de 2015 não impactou de forma diferente a alavancagem e a maturidade das dívidas de empresas restritas e não restritas. Em suma, há indícios de impactos maiores de crises sobre investimentos e financiamentos de empresas restritas em comparação a empresas não restritas, sendo que a crise de 2008 apresentou impactos mais relevantes sobre a alavancagem e a crise de 2015 apresentou impactos mais relevantes sobre investimentos. / In times of financial crisis, problems stemming from informational asymmetries are intensified, hampering the channeling of resources to those with the best investment opportunities, according to Mishkin (1992). In this sense, crisis tend to intensify financial constraints, and may impact companies\' investments and financing differently. That said, this study aims to investigate the impact of financial crisis on investments and financing of financially constrained and unconstrained Brazilian companies, specifically analyzing the impact of subprime crisis of 2008 and the recent crisis of 2015. Companies were classified as constrained and unconstrained according to two criteria: intersection between size and age and existence or not of rating, counting with 203 public companies in the investment model and 192 companies in the financing model. Quarterly data were used between the first quarter of 2007 and the third quarter of 2016, adopting the method of panel data analysis. The results indicate that, by both the size and age criteria and the rating criterion, only the crisis of 2015 negatively impacted the investments of the companies, being the impact greater on constrained companies. Analyzing the sensitivity of the investments to the cash in times of contraction in the supply of resources, there are indications that, by the criterion of size and age, cash was more relevant for constrained companies in the crisis of 2008 and 2015 compared to unconstrained companies, and by the criterion of rating, only in the crisis of 2015. The impact of crisis on leverage was more evident by the rating criterion, in which the crisis of 2008 showed a larger negative impact on the leverage of constrained companies, accompanied by an increase in proportion of short-term debt mainly to these companies. The crisis of 2015 did not have a different impact on the leverage and maturity of the debts of constrained and unconstrained companies. In summary, there are indications of greater impacts of crisis on investments and financing of constrained companies compared to unconstrained companies, and the crisis of 2008 had more relevant impacts on leverage and the crisis of 2015 had more relevant impacts on investments.

Em momentos de crises financeiras, problemas decorrentes de assimetrias informacionais são intensificados, prejudicando a canalização de recursos para detentores das melhores oportunidades de investimento, conforme Mishkin (1992). Nesse sentido, crises tendem a intensificar restrições financeiras, podendo impactar investimentos e financiamentos das empresas de formas distintas. Dito isso, este estudo tem por objetivo investigar os impactos de crises financeiras sobre investimentos e financiamentos de empresas brasileiras restritas e não restritas, analisando, especificamente, o impacto da crise do subprime de 2008 e da recente crise de 2015. As empresas foram classificadas em restritas e não restritas segundo dois critérios: interseção entre tamanho e idade e existência ou não de rating, contando com 203 empresas de capital aberto no modelo de investimentos e 192 empresas no modelo de financiamentos. Foram utilizados dados trimestrais entre o primeiro trimestre de 2007 e o terceiro trimestre de 2016, adotando como método a análise de dados em painel. Os resultados indicam que, tanto pelo critério tamanho e idade quanto pelo critério de rating, somente a crise de 2015 impactou, negativamente, os investimentos das empresas, sendo esse impacto maior sobre empresas restritas. Analisando a sensibilidade dos investimentos ao caixa em momentos de contração na oferta de recursos, há indícios de que, pelo critério tamanho e idade, caixa foi mais relevante para as empresas restritas nas crises de 2008 e 2015 em comparação às empresas não restritas, enquanto, pelo critério de rating, somente na crise de 2015. O impacto de crises sobre a alavancagem foi mais evidente pelo critério de rating, em que a crise de 2008 mostrou impacto maior, negativamente, sobre a alavancagem de empresas restritas, acompanhado de um aumento na proporção das dívidas de curto prazo principalmente para essas empresas. A crise de 2015 não impactou de forma diferente a alavancagem e a maturidade das dívidas de empresas restritas e não restritas. Em suma, há indícios de impactos maiores de crises sobre investimentos e financiamentos de empresas restritas em comparação a empresas não restritas, sendo que a crise de 2008 apresentou impactos mais relevantes sobre a alavancagem e a crise de 2015 apresentou impactos mais relevantes sobre investimentos. / In times of financial crisis, problems stemming from informational asymmetries are intensified, hampering the channeling of resources to those with the best investment opportunities, according to Mishkin (1992). In this sense, crisis tend to intensify financial constraints, and may impact companies\' investments and financing differently. That said, this study aims to investigate the impact of financial crisis on investments and financing of financially constrained and unconstrained Brazilian companies, specifically analyzing the impact of subprime crisis of 2008 and the recent crisis of 2015. Companies were classified as constrained and unconstrained according to two criteria: intersection between size and age and existence or not of rating, counting with 203 public companies in the investment model and 192 companies in the financing model. Quarterly data were used between the first quarter of 2007 and the third quarter of 2016, adopting the method of panel data analysis. The results indicate that, by both the size and age criteria and the rating criterion, only the crisis of 2015 negatively impacted the investments of the companies, being the impact greater on constrained companies. Analyzing the sensitivity of the investments to the cash in times of contraction in the supply of resources, there are indications that, by the criterion of size and age, cash was more relevant for constrained companies in the crisis of 2008 and 2015 compared to unconstrained companies, and by the criterion of rating, only in the crisis of 2015. The impact of crisis on leverage was more evident by the rating criterion, in which the crisis of 2008 showed a larger negative impact on the leverage of constrained companies, accompanied by an increase in proportion of short-term debt mainly to these companies. The crisis of 2015 did not have a different impact on the leverage and maturity of the debts of constrained and unconstrained companies. In summary, there are indications of greater impacts of crisis on investments and financing of constrained companies compared to unconstrained companies, and the crisis of 2008 had more relevant impacts on leverage and the crisis of 2015 had more relevant impacts on investments.

Earnings management has had consequence in financial disasters, such as Enron, WorldCom and Nortel. More recently, it is alleged in the Lehman bankruptcy, which ushered in a global financial meltdown. Yet despite increased regulation and focus on governance and auditing, researchers find that earnings management remains a common practice. Accounting academics have responded to the earnings management problem by conducting studies using secondary data for governance variables and financial models to measure earnings management indirectly. Meanwhile, governance variables measured with secondary data now show little variability because of improved best practice and regulation, and there is strong evidence that the agency causal model and the earnings management measures are seriously flawed. This study uses a mixed-mode research model based on agency and stewardship theory to explain earnings management, and uses a more direct measure of its occurrence, namely the level of board information asymmetries and board monitoring and control actions, as a proxy for earnings management. Primary data is used to provide direct measures of important governance variables, which produce mixed results relative to earnings management using secondary data. In a survey of 245 Canadian public company directors, this study finds that an independent chair, less busy directors, and a smaller board does reduce earnings management, but that this impact is strongly moderated by the CEO's attributes. A CEO with stewardship attributes reduces earnings management, and a CEO with agency attributes increases earnings management. There also is evidence in the study that agency conflict variables improve governance outcomes, in this case, reducing the level of earnings management, and that board processes around monitoring and control actions could be a problem.

This thesis explores the transparency in public procurement processes in Sweden. The purpose of the thesis is to evaluate the procurement process in the case of framework agreements on consultancy services and the focus is on exploring perceptions on the procurement process from both suppliers and procurers. The thesis contributes with findings to a research area that is not well studied, and where there is a need for more research. Previous research has focused on evaluating the regulations rather than the process. The results suggest that the specific procurement process studied is perceived to work well and being transparent. There might be information asymmetries present in the process which could potentially threaten the transparency. To further improve the procurement process both suppliers and procures would like to see more room for dialogue and less focus on following the regulations to the letter.

The purpose of our thesis is to examine the relationship between option implied volatility and analyst consensus recommendation revisions. We offer a Swedish perspective on the growing popularity of equity options and its relationship with different stock market participants and returns. We chose the Swedish options market since it is substantially smaller in relation to the stock market than in countries such as the US, it is also not as studied. First, we conduct an event study using a fixed effects OLS model to determine the effect of analysts’ consensus recommendation revision. Second, we use a probit regression model to determine the probability of a revision given the option implied volatility. We find that there is generally a statistically significant relationship between option implied volatility and analyst consensus recommendation revisions as well as with abnormal returns, providing further discussion on the information sharing between the two markets and its participants.

Yes / Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose that consumer choice be guided by price fairness judgements to increase consumer satisfaction and subsequently enhance market efficiency. Consumers en masse lack the information to judge price fairness, thereby causing their ability to influence the economy to be overlooked. Design/methodology/approach – This is an argumentative and conceptual work that aims to initiate a debate on this important yet unexplored issue. The arguments presented in the paper are based on economic and technological considerations. Findings – The measure for enabling a consumer price fairness judgement is unit cost information – the cost incurred by a firm to produce a product and/or service. The benefits and challenges stemming from the availability of unit cost information (i.e. cost transparency) to consumers and companies are presented and the likely impact of cost transparency on addressing information asymmetries between buyers and sellers are discussed. Originality/value – Although a significant body of knowledge exists on issues such as price transparency and how it is driven and enabled by the growth of the Internet, there is little or no evidence of research yet on issues related to cost transparency. The authors believe this work would create a new line of research for scholarly community leading to an impact on practice.

Em mercados de capitais perfeitos, a decisão de investimento de uma empresa pode ser considerada independente de sua decisão de financiamento, uma vez que recursos externos funcionam como um perfeito substituto para o capital interno. No entanto, em mercados de capitais com imperfeições, tais como custos de transação, custos de falência, problemas de assimetria de informações e problemas de agência, a disponibilidade de capital interno tende a influenciar a decisão de investimento. A insuficiência de recursos internos pode levar empresas a não aproveitarem boas oportunidades de investimento (subinvestimento) e o excesso pode incentivar administradores a investirem em projetos não lucrativos (superinvestimento). Em função de características operacionais, financeiras e administrativas, algumas empresas são mais sujeitas aos impactos de imperfeições de mercados e, por este motivo, seus investimentos devem ser mais sensíveis à geração interna de recursos. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar, no universo de empresas brasileiras de capital aberto, a sensibilidade do investimento em capital fixo - representado pela variação do imobilizado bruto - à geração interna de recursos - representada pelo fluxo de caixa operacional - bem como os fatores (características operacionais, financeiras e administrativas) que afetam essa sensibilidade. Foram considerados os seguintes fatores: tempo de negociação na bolsa de valores; tamanho da empresa; alavancagem financeira; percentual de ações em posse do(s) acionista(s) controlador(es); taxa de pagamento de dividendos e setor de atividade. A abordagem do estudo foi baseada em modelos de regressão múltipla. Dados em painel foram utilizados para estimar os coeficientes dos modelos. Na primeira parte do estudo, foi feita regressão do investimento sobre o fluxo de caixa e variáveis de controle. Na segunda parte do estudo, termos de interação entre o fluxo de caixa e os fatores corporativos foram introduzidos nos modelos. Os resultados da primeira parte deste estudo não mostraram evidências de que geração interna de recursos tem impacto sobre o investimento, sugerindo que nem todas as empresas preferem (ou dependem de) recursos internos para investir. Os resultados da segunda parte mostraram que, dependendo das características das empresas, a geração interna de recursos é bastante relevante para o investimento.Tamanho, alavancagem financeira e percentual de ações ordinárias em posse do(s) acionista(s) controlador(es) afetam a sensibilidade do investimento à geração interna de recursos. Quanto maior o tamanho da empresa, quanto maior sua alavancagem financeira e quanto maior o percentual de ações em posse do(s) acionista(s) controlador(es), menor será o impacto da geração interna de recursos sobre o investimento. Isso é coerente com a existência de custos de transação, custos de falência, assimetria de informações e problemas de agência. Os resultados relativos aos dois últimos fatores sugerem que o problema de superinvestimento é mais crítico que o de subinvestimento em empresas brasileiras de capital aberto. / In perfect capital markets, a firm´s investment decision can be considered independent from its financing decision, because external funds provide a perfect substitute for internal capital. However, in capital markets with imperfections, such as transaction costs, bankruptcy costs, information asymmetries and agency problems, the availability of internal capital tends to have an influence on investment decision. The shortage of internal funds may lead firms to pass up good investment opportunities (underinvestment) and the excess can encourage managers to invest in non-valuable projects (overinvestment). Due to operational, financial and managing features, some firms are more liable to the impacts of market imperfections than others and, for this reason, their investment should be more sensitive to internal funds generation. The aim of this study is to investigate, in the universe of brazilian public firms, the of fixed capital investment – represented by change in gross fixed assets – to internal funds generation – represented by cash flow from operations – as well as the corporate factors (operational, financial and managing features) that affect this sensitivity. The following factors were considered: length of time traded in the stock exchange market; firm size; financial leverage; percentage of common assets detained by controllers; dividend payment rate and industry. The study approach was based on multiple regression models. Panel data was used to estimate models coefficients. In the first part of the study, investment was regressed on cash flow and control variables. In the second part, interaction terms between cash flow and corporate factors were introduced in the models. The results of the first part of this study showed no evidence that internal funds generation has impact on investment, suggesting that not all firms prefer (or depend on) internal funds to invest. The results of the second part showed that, conditioned on firms features, internal funds generation is rather considerable for investment decision. Size, financial leverage and percentage of common assets detained by controllers affect investment sensitivity to internal funds generation. The larger the firm size, the larger its financial leverage and the larger the percentage of common assets detained by controllers, smaller will be the impact of internal funds generation on investment. This is consistent with the existence of transaction costs, bankruptcy costs, information asymmetries and agency problems. The results concerning the two latter factors suggest that the overinvestment problem is more serious than the underinvestment problem in brazilian public firms.

This thesis investigates how proximity to parks, historic district designations, and water quality are valued at residential housing prices. The first essay argues that the negative influences of parks and historic districts, if not noticed, could promote negative externalities and unincentivized investments. I find a negative impact on housing values for a close proximity to a park, suggesting disamenities in park features. When the boundary discontinuity and park amenities are considered, I find a positive valuation for a park. Overall, these results imply a mixed influence of parks on homeowners. From the historic district standpoint, I find a positive valuation of the local historic districts over the surrounding neighborhoods. The latter findings indicate that the benefits of locally designated areas outweigh the negative impacts. The second essay researches a probable lead risk in the water supply on the residential market. I argue strongly for the possibility of hidden-type information relative to lead in water supplies. I find that the influence of lead risk in their water supply is not statistically significant. The test for asymmetric information validates the expectation that homes in the relatively high lead-risk neighborhoods might not be informed of the level of lead-risk in their water supply.