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The Impact of Firm‐Level Illiquidity on Crash Risk and the Role of Media Independence: International Evidence

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  • Zhe An
  • Wenlian Gao
  • Donghui Li
  • Feifei Zhu

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of firm‐level illiquidity on stock price crash risk by employing a sample of 21,986 firms across 36 countries spanning the years 1997 to 2007. In doing so, the role of media independence in shaping this impact is also examined. The empirical results suggest that stock illiquidity is significantly and positively associated with firm‐level crash risk. Furthermore, the positive association between illiquidity and crash risk has been mitigated in countries with independent media, characterized by a lower level of state ownership and a higher level of press freedom, in addition to the reduction effect of media independence per se on crash risk. Our main conclusions remain valid after taking into account the endogeneity issues and various robustness tests.

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  • Zhe An & Wenlian Gao & Donghui Li & Feifei Zhu, 2018. "The Impact of Firm‐Level Illiquidity on Crash Risk and the Role of Media Independence: International Evidence," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 18(4), pages 547-593, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:irvfin:v:18:y:2018:i:4:p:547-593
    DOI: 10.1111/irfi.12162
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