What Does Not Work in Comparing Securities Laws: A Critique on La Porta et al.'s Methodology
International Company and Commercial Law Review, pp. 300-305, 2005
11 Pages Posted: 6 Apr 2005 Last revised: 2 Apr 2009
Date Written: September 20, 2008
Abstract
The articles by La Porta et al. are some of the most-cited pieces in economics, finance, and law. This is also true for their recent article "What Works in Securities Laws?". In this study they examine the effect of securities laws on stock market developments in 49 countries. Based on various indices their main finding is that there is little evidence that public enforcement is important, but strong evidence that laws mandating disclosure and facilitating private enforcement through liability rules benefit stock markets. In this short paper, I do not question this result as such nor do I object to their economic findings. Rather this paper will discuss whether La Porta et al.'s methodology on comparative law, which is often taken for granted in Law and Finance, is accurate.
Keywords: Comparative law, securities law, law and finance, La Porta, Lopez-de-Silanes, Shleifer, numerical comparative law, econometrics, what works in securities laws
JEL Classification: K22, G15, G18, G3, G38, N40, P5, C00, B23
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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