Risk Sharing Within and Outside the Firm: The Disparate Effects of Wrongful Discharge Laws on Expected Stock Returns
IZA Discussion Paper No. 13941
Posted: 20 Feb 2021
There are 2 versions of this paper
Risk Sharing within and Outside the Firm: The Disparate Effects of Wrongful Discharge Laws on Expected Stock Returns
Date Written: December 08, 2020
Abstract
We study the effect of wrongful-discharge laws (WDL) on firm-level stock returns. We find disparate effects depending on the exact design of the law. Consistent with rational, risk-based pricing, the effect on returns seems to be linked to how firms share systematic risk with their employees under the respective laws. Firms in states with WDLs prohibiting employers from acting in bad faith have more intra-firm risk sharing and lower expected returns. Vaguer legislation that prohibits discharges in retaliation for acting in accordance with public policy is associated with less intra-firm risk sharing and higher expected returns.
Keywords: labor protection, expected stock returns, risk sharing
JEL Classification: G12, J38, G38
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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