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Do Rating Agencies Benefit from Providing Higher Ratings? Evidence from the Consequences of Municipal Bond Ratings Recalibration

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  • ANNE BEATTY
  • JACQUELYN GILLETTE
  • REINING PETACCHI
  • JOSEPH WEBER

Abstract

We ask whether credit rating agencies receive higher fees and gain greater market share when they provide more favorable ratings. To investigate this question, we use the 2010 rating scale recalibration by Moody's and Fitch, which increased ratings absent any underlying change in issuer credit quality. Consistent with prior research, we find that the recalibration allowed the clients of Moody's and Fitch to receive better ratings and lower yields. We add to this evidence by showing that the recalibration also led to larger fees and to increases in the market shares of Moody's and Fitch. These results are consistent with critics’ concerns about the effects of the issuer‐pay model on the credit ratings market.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne Beatty & Jacquelyn Gillette & Reining Petacchi & Joseph Weber, 2019. "Do Rating Agencies Benefit from Providing Higher Ratings? Evidence from the Consequences of Municipal Bond Ratings Recalibration," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(2), pages 323-354, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:joares:v:57:y:2019:i:2:p:323-354
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.12263
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    Cited by:

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    2. Chandan Sharma & Archana Singh & Rajan Yadav, 2023. "Impact of Competition in Credit Rating Industry: Evidence From India," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440221, January.
    3. Stephanie F. Cheng & Christine Cuny & Hao Xue, 2023. "Disclosure and Competition for Capital," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(7), pages 4312-4330, July.
    4. Hung, Mingyi & Kraft, Pepa & Wang, Shiheng & Yu, Gwen, 2022. "Market power and credit rating standards: Global evidence," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(2).
    5. Sugata Roychowdhury & Suraj Srinivasan, 2019. "The Role of Gatekeepers in Capital Markets," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(2), pages 295-322, May.
    6. Jacquelyn R. Gillette & Delphine Samuels & Frank S. Zhou, 2020. "The Effect of Credit Ratings on Disclosure: Evidence from the Recalibration of Moody's Municipal Ratings," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(3), pages 693-739, June.
    7. Cheng, Stephanie F. & De Franco, Gus & Lin, Pengkai, 2023. "Marijuana liberalization and public finance: A capital market perspective on the passage of medical use laws," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(1).
    8. deHaan, Ed & Li, Jiacui & Watts, Edward M., 2023. "Retail bond investors and credit ratings," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(1).

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