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The effect of corporate executives’ academic experience on firm financialization — Evidence from listed manufacturing firms in China

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  • Li, Chang
  • Hua, Yongjun

Abstract

This paper studies the impact of corporate executives’ early academic experience on corporate financialization using the data from 2010 to 2019 of A-share listed manufacturing firms on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges. The results show that the personal characteristics developed in early academic career experience significantly inhibit their decision-making on corporate financialization. This inhibitory effect is more obvious among the non-state-owned firms and those firms in the regions with a high level of marketization. Meanwhile, this inhibitory effect enhances with the implementation of equity incentive policies for corporate executives, but not with the employee stock ownership plan (ESOPs). The results reveal the value of early academic career experiences of executives in corporate governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Chang & Hua, Yongjun, 2025. "The effect of corporate executives’ academic experience on firm financialization — Evidence from listed manufacturing firms in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:73:y:2025:i:pa:s0275531924003805
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2024.102587
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    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G40 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - General
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation

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