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Optimal disclosure policy and undue diligence

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  • David Andolfatto
  • Aleksander Berentsen
  • Christopher Waller

Abstract

While both public and private financial agencies supply asset markets with large quantities of information, they do not necessarily disclose all asset-related information to the general public. This observation leads us to ask what principles might govern the optimal disclosure policy for an asset manager or financial regulator. To investigate this question, we study the properties of a dynamic economy endowed with a risky asset, and with individuals that lack commitment. Information relating to future asset returns is available to society at zero cost. Legislation dictates whether this information is to be made public or not. Given the nature of our environment, nondisclosure is generally desirable. This result is overturned, however, when individuals are able to access hidden information - what we call undue diligence - at sufficiently low cost. Information disclosure is desirable, in other words, only in the event that individuals can easily discover it for themselves.

Suggested Citation

  • David Andolfatto & Aleksander Berentsen & Christopher Waller, 2011. "Optimal disclosure policy and undue diligence," ECON - Working Papers 045, Department of Economics - University of Zurich.
    • Handle: RePEc:zur:econwp:045
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Chao Gu & Han Han & Randall Wright, 2020. "The Effects Of News When Liquidity Matters," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 61(4), pages 1411-1435, November.
    2. Goncharenko, Roman & Hledik, Juraj & Pinto, Roberto, 2018. "The dark side of stress tests: Negative effects of information disclosure," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 49-59.
    3. Galanis, Spyros, 2016. "The value of information in risk-sharing environments with unawareness," Discussion Paper Series In Economics And Econometrics 1602, Economics Division, School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton.
    4. Athanasios Geromichalos & Lucas Herrenbrueck, 2016. "Monetary Policy, Asset Prices, and Liquidity in Over‐the‐Counter Markets," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 48(1), pages 35-79, February.
    5. Zhifeng Cai & Feng Dong, 0. "A Model of Secular Migration from Centralized to Decentralized Trade," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 0, pages 1-44.
    6. Bignon, Vincent & Dutu, Richard, 2017. "Coin Assaying And Commodity Money," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(6), pages 1305-1335, September.
    7. Chao Gu & Cyril Monnet & Ed Nosal & Randall Wright, 2019. "On the Instability of Banking and Financial Intermediation," Working Papers 1901, Department of Economics, University of Missouri.
    8. Jungherr, Joachim, 2018. "Bank opacity and financial crises," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 157-176.
    9. Chao Gu & Cyril Monnet & Ed Nosal & Randall Wright, 2019. "On the Instability of Banking and Other Financial Intermediation," Working Papers 19.04, Swiss National Bank, Study Center Gerzensee.
    10. Geromichalos, Athanasios & Herrenbrueck, Lucas M. & Salyer, Kevin D., 2016. "A search-theoretic model of the term premium," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 11(3), September.
    11. Chao Gu & Han Han & Randall Wright, 2016. "The Effects of Monetary Policy and Other Announcements," Working Papers 1621, Department of Economics, University of Missouri.
    12. Uras, Burak R., 2020. "Finance and development: Rethinking the role of financial transparency," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    13. Allen, Franklin & Vayanos, Dimitri & Vives, Xavier, 2014. "Introduction to financial economics," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 1-14.
    14. Gary Gorton & Guillermo Ordo?ez, 2014. "Collateral Crises," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(2), pages 343-378, February.
    15. Erwan Quintin & Cyril Monnet, 2014. "A Theory of Blind Trading," 2014 Meeting Papers 283, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    16. Zijian Wang, 2019. "Trading Motives in Asset Markets," UWO Department of Economics Working Papers 20191, University of Western Ontario, Department of Economics.
    17. Galanis, Spyros, 2016. "The value of information in risk-sharing environments with unawareness," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 1-18.
    18. Goldstein, Itay & Leitner, Yaron, 2018. "Stress tests and information disclosure," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 34-69.
    19. Athanasios Geromichalos & Kuk Mo Jung, 2019. "Monetary policy and efficiency in over‐the‐counter financial trade," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 52(4), pages 1699-1754, November.
    20. Wang, Zijian, 2019. "Trading Motives in Asset Markets," MPRA Paper 91401, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    21. Choi, Michael, 2018. "Imperfect information transmission and adverse selection in asset markets," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 619-649.
    22. Monnet, Cyril & Quintin, Erwan, 2017. "Limited disclosure and hidden orders in asset markets," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(3), pages 602-616.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Monetary policy; liquidity; financial markets;

    JEL classification:

    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • E59 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Other

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