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Imperfect Financial Markets and Investment Inefficiencies

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  • Elias Albagli
  • Christian Hellwig
  • Aleh Tsyvinski

Abstract

We analyze the consequences of noisy information aggregation for investment. Market imperfections create endogenous rents that cause overinvestment in upside risks and underinvestment in downside risks. In partial equilibrium, these inefficiencies are particularly severe if upside risks are coupled with easy scalability of investment. In general equilibrium, the shareholders' collective attempts to boost value of individual firms leads to a novel externality operating through price that amplifies investment distortions with downside risks but offsets distortions with upside risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Elias Albagli & Christian Hellwig & Aleh Tsyvinski, 2023. "Imperfect Financial Markets and Investment Inefficiencies," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 113(9), pages 2323-2354, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:113:y:2023:i:9:p:2323-54
    DOI: 10.1257/aer.20170725
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    Cited by:

    1. Arnold, Lutz G. & Zelzner, Sebastian, 2022. "Financial trading versus entrepreneurship: Competition for talent and negative feedback effects," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 186-199.
    2. Caio Machado & Ana Elisa Pereira, 2020. "Competing for Stock Market Feedback," Documentos de Trabajo 545, Instituto de Economia. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile..
    3. Elias Albagli & Christian Hellwig & Aleh Tsyvinski, 2021. "Dispersed Information and Asset Prices," Working Papers hal-03118639, HAL.
    4. Elias Albagli & Christian Hellwig & Aleh Tsyvinski, 2024. "Information Aggregation with Asymmetric Asset Payoffs," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 79(4), pages 2715-2758, August.
    5. Eduardo Dávila & Cecilia Parlatore, 2021. "Trading Costs and Informational Efficiency," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 76(3), pages 1471-1539, June.
    6. Dávila, Eduardo & Parlatore, Cecilia, 2023. "Volatility and informativeness," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(3), pages 550-572.
    7. Li, Xiuqing & Xiao, Liming, 2024. "The impact of urban green business environment on FDI quality and its driving mechanism: Evidence from China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    8. Zhenyu Gao & Michael Sockin & Wei Xiong, 2020. "Learning about the Neighborhood," NBER Working Papers 26907, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Lutz G. Arnold & Sebastian Zelzner, 2020. "Welfare Effects of the Allocation of Talent to Financial Trading: What Does the Grossman-Stiglitz Model Say?," Working Papers 190, Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D25 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Intertemporal Firm Choice: Investment, Capacity, and Financing
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets

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