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Abstract:
This paper examines the effect of corporate governance on investor reactions to accounting choice in the context of accounting for business combinations. Using a sample of 324 recent stock swap acquisitions I find that, contrary to practitioners' belief that capital markets penalize purchase accounting, the opposite appears to be true; there is a negative and significant differential market reaction of approximately 4 percent for acquiring firms that announce pooling transactions. This return differential declines to negative 8 percent for firms with ineffective corporate governance. These findings are consistent with capital markets interpreting the choice of purchase accounting as a signal of management's confidence in the likelihood of a successful merger. This signal is particularly relevant when corporate governance is considered ineffective.

Corporate Governance, Business Combinations, Mergers, Pooling of Interests, Timely Loss Recognition

Abstract:
We analyze geographic patterns of trade using transactions data from eBay and MercadoLibre, two large online auction sites. We find that distance continues to be an important deterrent to trade between geographically separated buyers and sellers, though at a lesser extent than has been observed in studies of non-Internet commerce. We also find a strong "home bias" towards trading with counterparties located in the same city. Further analyses suggest that cultural factors and the possibility of direct contract enforcement in case of breach are the main reasons behind the same city bias.

Abstract:
Banks closed over 30 million debit/checking consumer accounts involuntarily in 2001-2005 for excessive overdrafts, with these former bank customers having limited or no subsequent access to the formal banking system. Using a new county-level database, we analyze the determinants of these involuntary account closures, focusing on explanations relating to household economics and financial decision making ability, social capital, bank policies, and credit access through payday lending. Involuntary closures are more frequent in counties with a larger fraction of single mothers, lower education levels, lower wealth, and higher rates of unemployment. Social capital also matters, with closures higher in counties with higher rates of property crime and lower rates of electoral participation. Bank policies relate to closures, with more closures in counties with more competitive banking markets and more multi-market banks. Finally, using national data and a natural experiment, we find that access to payday lending leads to higher rates of involuntary account closure.

Consumer Finance, Payday Lenders, Account Closures, Overdraft, Unbanked, Commercial Banking

Abstract:
We examine the information flow for four stocks over seven months to trace the relationship between on-line discussion, news activity, and stock price movements. On-line discussions support numerous unsubstantiated rumors, substantial on-point exchanges, and quick dissemination of imminent and recently released information. Applying language-processing routines to message board postings and news, we create sentiment and disagreement measures or eInformation. We analyze the determinants of sentiment and disagreement, and trace links between news, eInformation, and stock returns. This intensive clinical study of on-line discussions suggests mechanisms individual investors and groups can use to analyze and digest company information.

Abstract:
In September 2008, during the global economic downturn that followed the credit crunch crisis, Robert Polet, the CEO of the Gucci Group, a London based multi-brand luxury goods company, had learned that after four years of growth, the Group's largest business, the fashion brand Gucci, would report a slowdown for the first semester. Polet had joined Gucci in 2004 after 26 years at one of the largest consumer goods companies Since his arrival, the Gucci Group had grown both in revenues and profitability. Part of his secret was his decentralized management style. Polet was worried because the economic crisis was reaching out the luxury world. He knew that he should leave the primary decisions for the Gucci brand to Lee. Yet, given the urgency of the situation, Polet wondered if more involvement from him in the brand's decision making process would not be more effective. The case also presents students with a series of actions that could help boost Gucci's sales and asks them to analyze what could Polet do.

Abstract:
SUBJECT AREAS: Mortgages, Customer profitability, Bank management, Banking, Banks, Central banks, Commercial banking, Customer & client analysis.

Describes how Bankinter, a mid-sized Spanish bank, altered the information set available to its customer-facing employees. In the spring of 2003, Bankinter introduced an Excel-based program called the mortgage simulator that helped branch managers calculate the price of a mortgage and estimate the customer lifetime value (CLV). Facilitates a discussion of the impact of such a change in the information set for employees when the incentives and decision rights remain unchanged. Also examines the tradeoffs front-line employees face as they divide their efforts between reaching new customers and increasing the amount of cross-selling to existing customers.

Abstract:
SUBJECT AREAS: Banking, Commercial banking, Customer acquisition, Risk management.

The "Central Bank" series analyzes the use of information and product design for managing the counterparty risk of newly acquired customers. Central Bank, a mid-sized regional U.S. bank, was attempting to grow its customer base by increasing the number of new checking accounts. Like many banks, Central saw checking accounts as an important tool for customer acquisition and loyalty-building. However, the bank realized that the aggressive pursuit of new accounts could result in an increased number of overdrafts and, ultimately, customer defaults. The first case, "Central Bank: The ChexSystems(SM) QualiFile(R) Decision," analyzes how QualiFile, a debit scoring product commercialized by ChexSystems, can be used to manage this risk.