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Contract contingencies and uncertainty: Evidence from product market contracts

Author

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  • Hui, Kai Wai
  • Oh, Jun
  • She, Guoman
  • Yeung, P. Eric

Abstract

We study contingencies written in firms' material product market contracts, focusing on the theoretical prediction of uncertainty as an important determinant. We identify contract contingencies from firms’ public regulatory filings and examine the effects of general business uncertainty and specific innovation-related uncertainty. To enhance causal inference, we utilize two major business shocks (i.e., the 2008 Financial Crisis and the COVID pandemic) and the diffusion of 29 disruptive innovation shocks (Bloom et al., 2021). We also explore the effects of re-negotiation costs and writing costs. Overall, our empirical results are consistent with predictions from dynamic models of incomplete contracting.

Suggested Citation

  • Hui, Kai Wai & Oh, Jun & She, Guoman & Yeung, P. Eric, 2025. "Contract contingencies and uncertainty: Evidence from product market contracts," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(2).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:79:y:2025:i:2:s0165410124000739
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2024.101743
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Incomplete contracting; Contingencies; Uncertainty; Writing costs; Re-negotiation costs; Innovation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • H83 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Public Administration

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