IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecolet/v237y2024ics0165176524001459.html

Data analysis technology and inequality in capital costs

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Keyun
  • Xu, Fengmin
  • Wang, Shihao
  • Li, Benchu

Abstract

This paper studies how data analysis technology impacts inequality in capital costs (ICC). We build a noisy rational expectations model with data budget, data supply, and the heterogeneous marginal value of firms’ data. We find that the growth in data analysis technology exacerbates ICC by crowding out investors’ attention on the firm with a low marginal value of its data. The widening gap in the marginal value of data between different firms amplifies this crowding-out effect and further exacerbates ICC. Increasing investors’ data budget can effectively mitigate ICC when the marginal value of data exceeds the specific threshold.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Keyun & Xu, Fengmin & Wang, Shihao & Li, Benchu, 2024. "Data analysis technology and inequality in capital costs," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:237:y:2024:i:c:s0165176524001459
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2024.111662
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165176524001459
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.econlet.2024.111662?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bartlett, Robert & Morse, Adair & Stanton, Richard & Wallace, Nancy, 2022. "Consumer-lending discrimination in the FinTech Era," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(1), pages 30-56.
    2. Ding, Na & Gu, Leilei & Peng, Yuchao, 2022. "Fintech, financial constraints and innovation: Evidence from China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    3. Zeira, Joseph, 2007. "Wage inequality, technology, and trade," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 137(1), pages 79-103, November.
    4. Juliane Begenau & Maryam Farboodi & Laura Veldkamp, 2018. "Big Data in Finance and the Growth of Large Firms," Working Papers 18-08, New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics.
    5. Juliane Begenau & Maryam Farboodi & Laura Veldkamp, 2018. "Big Data in Finance and the Growth of Large Firms," NBER Working Papers 24550, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Dutta, Sunil & Nezlobin, Alexander, 2017. "Information disclosure, firm growth, and the cost of capital," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(2), pages 415-431.
    7. Maryam Farboodi & Laura Veldkamp, 2020. "Long-Run Growth of Financial Data Technology," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(8), pages 2485-2523, August.
    8. Richard Lambert & Christian Leuz & Robert E. Verrecchia, 2007. "Accounting Information, Disclosure, and the Cost of Capital," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 45(2), pages 385-420, May.
    9. Kacperczyk, Marcin & Nosal, Jaromir & Stevens, Luminita, 2019. "Investor sophistication and capital income inequality," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 18-31.
    10. Abraham,Facundo & Schmukler,Sergio L. & Tessada,Jose, 2019. "Robo-Advisors : Investing through Machines," Research and Policy Briefs 134881, The World Bank.
    11. Juliane Begenau & Laura Veldkamp & Maryam Farboodi, 2018. "Big Data in Finance and the Growth of Large Firms," 2018 Meeting Papers 155, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    12. Marcin Kacperczyk & Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh & Laura Veldkamp, 2016. "A Rational Theory of Mutual Funds' Attention Allocation," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 84, pages 571-626, March.
    13. repec:bla:jfinan:v:59:y:2004:i:4:p:1553-1583 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Liu, Nian & Qian, Yihe & Gu, Xinhua & Li, Guoqiang, 2024. "Digital technology, e-commerce, and economic inequality: The case of China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 259-271.
    15. Murtaza Hussain & Shaohua Yang & Umer Sahil Maqsood & R. M. Ammar Zahid, 2024. "Tapping into the green potential: The power of artificial intelligence adoption in corporate green innovation drive," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4375-4396, July.
    16. Xu, Liao & Zhang, Xuan & Zhao, Jing, 2023. "Limited investor attention and biased reactions to information: Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    17. Frost, Jon & Gambacorta, Leonardo & Gambacorta, Romina, 2022. "On the nexus between wealth inequality, financial development and financial technology," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 429-451.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Choudhary, Priya & Thenmozhi, M., 2024. "Fintech and financial sector: ADO analysis and future research agenda," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    2. Wang, Xiaodong & Deng, Yunfeng & Mao, Xiaomeng, 2025. "The impact of bank digital transformation on enterprises digital technology innovation in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    3. Zhang, Junsheng & Peng, Zezhi & Zeng, Yamin & Yang, Haisheng, 2023. "Do big data mutual funds outperform?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    4. Shiyang Huang & Yan Xiong & Liyan Yang, 2022. "Skill Acquisition and Data Sales," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(8), pages 6116-6144, August.
    5. Gondhi, Naveen, 2023. "Rational inattention, misallocation, and the aggregate economy," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 50-75.
    6. Cheng, Maoyong & Qu, Yang, 2023. "The false prosperity and promising future: Effects of data resources on bank efficiency," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    7. Li, Cheng & Li, Tao & Zhao, Shengkun & Zhao, Xuankai, 2025. "The financial benefits of digital technology adoption: Evidence from large language model," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    8. Feng, Yongqi & Zhang, Haolin & Zhang, Lei, 2025. "How monetary policies and fintech shape the peer effect of corporate financialization: Evidence from China's listed companies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    9. Khan, Habib Hussain & Qureshi, Fiza & Jamali, Dima, 2025. "Digital disruption in financing: Are fintech and bigtech credit reshaping corporate access to capital?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    10. Alexandre Kohlhas & Vladimir Asriyan, 2025. "The Macroeconomics of Data: Scale, Product Choice, and Pricing in the Information Age," Economics Series Working Papers 1073, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    11. Hong, Liu & Nikbakht, Ehsan & Zhou, Tianpeng, 2023. "Does product market competition affect the adoption of FinTech by non-financial firms?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    12. Wu, Shan & Pan, Xiaoya & Wang, Fan, 2025. "Can the synergy between FinTech and data element market development enhance credit allocation efficiency?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    13. Luo, Sumei & Sun, Yongkun & Zhou, Rui, 2022. "Can fintech innovation promote household consumption? Evidence from China family panel studies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    14. Tang, Mengxuan & Hu, Yang & Corbet, Shaen & Hou, Yang (Greg) & Oxley, Les, 2024. "Fintech, bank diversification and liquidity: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    15. Tian, Geran & Wu, Weixing, 2023. "Big data pricing in marketplace lending and price discrimination against repeat borrowers: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    16. Yannelis, Constantine & Zhang, Anthony Lee, 2023. "Competition and selection in credit markets," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(2).
    17. Wu, Qingyang & Li, Shanhong, 2024. "Decarbonization by digits: How data factors drive nonlinear sustainable dynamics in manufacturing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 374(C).
    18. Ding, Jinxiu & Li, Lingxue & Zhao, Jinsong, 2024. "How does fintech prompt corporations toward ESG sustainable development? Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    19. Liu, Shiang & Sun, Liang, 2024. "Navigating uncharted skies: The role of pilot CEO in FinTech adoption," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
    20. Jansen, Mark & Nagel, Fabian & Yannelis, Constantine & Zhang, Anthony Lee, 2025. "Data and welfare in credit markets," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • D53 - Microeconomics - - General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium - - - Financial Markets
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:237:y:2024:i:c:s0165176524001459. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ecolet .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.