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Potential pilot problems: Treatment spillovers in financial regulatory experiments

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  • Boehmer, Ekkehart
  • Jones, Charles M.
  • Zhang, Xiaoyan

Abstract

The total effects of a regulatory change consist of direct effects and indirect effects (spillovers), but the standard difference-in-difference approach mostly ignores potential indirect effects. During the 2007 full repeal of the uptick rule, short-sellers become much more aggressive across the board, even in control stocks where the uptick rule is already suspended. This finding is consistent with positive and significant indirect effects on control stocks, likely driven by aggressive broad list-based shorting. In contract, the indirect effect coefficients on shorting aggressiveness are negative for the 2005 partial uptick repeal, possibly due to substitutions between control and treatment stocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Boehmer, Ekkehart & Jones, Charles M. & Zhang, Xiaoyan, 2020. "Potential pilot problems: Treatment spillovers in financial regulatory experiments," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(1), pages 68-87.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:135:y:2020:i:1:p:68-87
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2019.05.016
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    3. Aggarwal, Nidhi & Panchapagesan, Venkatesh & Thomas, Susan, 2023. "When is the order-to-trade ratio fee effective?," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    4. Su, Zili, 2023. "Essays on equity incentive and share pledging in China," Other publications TiSEM fb4495ee-f9bc-45c7-9d85-1, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    5. Chung, Kee H. & Lee, Albert J. & Rösch, Dominik, 2020. "Tick size, liquidity for small and large orders, and price informativeness: Evidence from the Tick Size Pilot Program," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(3), pages 879-899.
    6. Srivastava, Pranjal & Jacob, Joshy, 2022. "Arbitrage constraints and behaviour of volatility components: Evidence from a natural experiment," IIMA Working Papers WP 2022-10-01, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    7. Nilabhra Bhattacharya & Theodore E. Christensen & Qunfeng Liao & Bo Ouyang, 2022. "Can short sellers constrain aggressive non-GAAP reporting?," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 391-440, June.
    8. Kee H. Chung & Chairat Chuwonganant, 2023. "Tick size and price efficiency: Further evidence from the Tick Size Pilot Program," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 52(3), pages 483-511, September.
    9. Jiang, George J. & Shimizu, Yoshiki & Strong, Cuyler, 2022. "Back to the futures: When short selling is banned," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Interference; Short sales; Aggressiveness; Tick test; Regulation SHO;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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