Insider Horizon and Disclosure Policies
65 Pages Posted: 22 May 2018 Last revised: 23 May 2022
Date Written: May 8, 2018
Abstract
We investigate the relationship between insider horizon and disclosure policy. First, we develop and analyze a rational expectations model assuming insiders are able to commit to a disclosure policy. Insiders with a short-horizon prefer more disclosure and are willing to bear costs of disclosure to reduce information asymmetries among capital market participants. We then empirically test our predictions in the setting of newly public firms and firms where the CEO is approaching retirement. We find that firms with insiders that have a shorter horizon disclose more and experience lower information asymmetry. Our study contributes to the understanding of firms’ disclosure choices by suggesting that the horizon of insiders shapes a firm’s disclosure policy.
Keywords: Investment Horizon, Voluntary Disclosure, Disclosure Policy, IPO
JEL Classification: M40, G14, G24, G32, D83
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation