Research Lab

This paper lays out alternative valuation models and evaluates their features. Three themes underlie the discussion. First, we require that the models be consistent with the theory of finance. Second, valuation involves accounting, so accounting theory as well as finance theory comes into play. Third, valuation models are a tool for practical valuation, so the respective models are judged on how they perform or do not perform (as a practical matter), with the emphasis is on caveat emptor.

We analyze a model of optimal capital structure and liquidity choice based on a dynamic tradeoff theory for financially constrained firms. In addition to the classical tradeoff between the expected tax advantages of debt and bankruptcy costs, we introduce a cost of external financing for the firm, which generates a precautionary demand for liquidity and an optimal liquidity management policy for the firm.

Why are banking systems unstable in so many countries—but not in others? The United States has had twelve systemic banking crises since 1840, while Canada has had none. The banking systems of Mexico and Brazil have not only been crisis prone but have provided minuscule amounts of credit to business enterprises and households.

We examine changes in banks' market-to-book ratios over the last decade, focusing on the dramatic and persistent declines witnessed during the financial crisis. The extent of the decline and its persistence cannot be explained by the delayed recognition of losses on existing financial instruments. Rather, it is declines in the values of intangibles — including customer relationships and other intangibles related to business opportunities — along with unrecognized contingent obligations that account for most of the persistent decline in market-to-book ratios.

Following its IPO in 2000, Moody's had two shareholders, Berkshire Hathaway and Davis Selected Advisors, who collectively own about 23.5% of Moody's from 2001 to 2010, the entire sample period. Moody's ratings on corporate bonds issued by important investee firms of these two stable large shareholders were more favorable relative to S&P's ratings. Moody's relatively favorable ratings are increasing in the size and duration for which large shareholders hold the investee firms. The results cannot be explained by issuer characteristics or by greater informativeness of Moody's ratings.

A growing literature investigates the association between stock return variation and several aspects of information and governance structures, both in cross-country settings and cross-firm settings within the U.S. Several papers in this literature use idiosyncratic stock return volatility (s_e^2) as the measure of firm-specific return variation whereas others use return synchronicity, or R2.

Understanding country differences in temporal discounting is critical for extending incentive-based environmental policies successfully from developed countries to developing countries. We examined differences between Chinese and Americans in discounting of future financial and environmental gains and losses. In general, environmental use value was discounted significantly more than the monetary values, but environmental existence value was discounted similarly to the monetary values. Confirming previous research, we found that participants discounted gains significantly more than losses.

We examine (1) whether the accounting, governance, and investing practices of Berkshire Hathaway investees are consistent with Warren Buffett's public statements on what constitutes good accounting, governance, and investing practices and (2) whether these practices are associated with Berkshire's initial "selection" or Buffett's subsequent "influence." Compared to control firms, we find that Berkshire investees are highly likely to follow Buffett's investment philosophy, somewhat likely to follow his preferred accounting, disclosure, and compensation policies, but unlikely to follow the bo