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Corporate governance and risk management at unprotected banks: National banks in the 1890s

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  • Calomiris, Charles W.
  • Carlson, Mark

Abstract

We examine bank governance and risk choices from the 1890s, a period without distortions from deposit insurance or other government assistance to banks. We link differences in managerial ownership to different corporate governance policies, risk, and methods of risk management. Formal corporate governance and high manager ownership are negatively correlated. Managerial salaries and self-lending are greater when managerial ownership is higher and lower when formal governance is employed. Banks with high managerial ownership (low formal governance) target lower default risk. High managerial ownership, not formal governance, is associated with greater reliance on cash instead of equity to limit risk.

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  • Calomiris, Charles W. & Carlson, Mark, 2016. "Corporate governance and risk management at unprotected banks: National banks in the 1890s," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(3), pages 512-532.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:119:y:2016:i:3:p:512-532
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2016.01.025
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    16. Calomiris, Charles W. & Carlson, Mark, 2017. "Interbank networks in the National Banking Era: Their purpose and their role in the Panic of 1893," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(3), pages 434-453.
    17. Anginer, D. & Demirguc-Kunt, A. & Huizinga, H.P. & Ma, K., 2014. "Corporate Governance and Bank Insolvency Risk : International Evidence," Other publications TiSEM eaa7fe1c-5eb5-4c02-9508-8, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    18. Delis, Manthos D. & Iosifidi, Maria & Kokas, Sotirios & Xefteris, Dimitrios & Ongena, Steven, 2020. "Enforcement actions on banks and the structure of loan syndicates," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Manager ownership; Corporate governance; Rent seeking; Risk preferences; Bank failures;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • N21 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913

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