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Corporate Governance and Financial Peer Effects

Author

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  • Douglas (DJ) Fairhurst
  • Yoonsoo Nam

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that managers select financial policies partially by mimicking policies of peer firms. We find that these peer effects in capital structure choice are unique to firms operating under weak external corporate governance. Cross‐sectional tests suggest that this finding is best explained by a quiet life hypothesis in which managers may be able to avoid the effort required to optimize financial policies and the scrutiny of market participants. Leverage ratios of mimicking firms display less sensitivity to a profitability shock. Finally, mimicking correlates to higher financing costs and lower future profitability, especially if it results in high leverage.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas (DJ) Fairhurst & Yoonsoo Nam, 2020. "Corporate Governance and Financial Peer Effects," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 49(1), pages 235-263, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:finmgt:v:49:y:2020:i:1:p:235-263
    DOI: 10.1111/fima.12240
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Su, Zhifang & Wang, Luhan & Liao, Jing & Cui, Xin, 2023. "Peer effects in corporate advertisement expenditure: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    2. Grieser, William & Hadlock, Charles & LeSage, James & Zekhnini, Morad, 2022. "Network effects in corporate financial policies," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(1), pages 247-272.
    3. Li, Junbao & Shi, Zhanzhong & He, Chengying & Lv, Chengshuang, 2023. "Peer effects on corporate R&D investment policies: A spatial panel model approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    4. Xiaoxu Zhang & Xinyu Du, 2023. "Industry and Regional Peer Effects in Corporate Digital Transformation: The Moderating Effects of TMT Characteristics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-22, March.
    5. Liu, Yongda & Padgett, Carol & Yin, Chao, 2022. "Internal information quality and financial policy peer effects," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    6. Leng, Tiecheng & Liu, Ying & Xiao, Yi & Hou, Chunxiao, 2023. "Does firm financialization affect optimal real investment decisions? Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    7. Liang, Quanxi & Li, Qiumei & Lu, Meiting & Shan, Yaowen, 2021. "Industry and geographic peer effects on corporate tax avoidance: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    8. Gyimah, Daniel & Machokoto, Michael & Sikochi, Anywhere (Siko), 2020. "Peer influence on trade credit," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    9. Ajirloo, Bahman Fathi & Switzer, Lorne N., 2022. "Self-disclosed peer effects on corporate capital structure," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    10. Karpavičius, Sigitas & Yu, Fan, 2022. "Do idiosyncratic technology shocks induce peer effects?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

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