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Do Informal Contracts Matter for Corporate Innovation? Evidence from Social Capital

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  • Gupta, Atul
  • Raman, Kartik
  • Shang, Chenguang

Abstract

We examine the relevance of informal contracting mechanisms for corporate innovation. Using social capital to capture the social costs imposed on opportunistic behavior by management, we report evidence that firms headquartered in states with higher levels of social capital are associated with more innovation. This result is more pronounced when employees are more susceptible to holdup (e.g., firms with low labor union coverage, firms located in states with weak legal protections for employees, and firms surrounded by few external employment opportunities) and when employees face higher levels of information asymmetry. Our study highlights the importance of informal contracts for innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Gupta, Atul & Raman, Kartik & Shang, Chenguang, 2020. "Do Informal Contracts Matter for Corporate Innovation? Evidence from Social Capital," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 55(5), pages 1657-1684, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jfinqa:v:55:y:2020:i:5:p:1657-1684_8
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. John (Jianqiu) Bai & Shuili Du & Wang Jin & Chi Wan, 2023. "Is social capital associated with individual social responsibility? The case of social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 64(4), pages 1861-1896, April.
    2. Hassan, M. Kabir & Houston, Reza & Karim, M. Sydul, 2021. "Courting innovation: The effects of litigation risk on corporate innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    3. Kershen Huang & Chenguang Shang, 2024. "Does informal governance matter to institutional investors? Evidence from social capital," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 59(2), pages 433-457, May.
    4. Jiao, Anqi & Lu, Juntai & Wei, Jia & Zhang, Wenqiao, 2023. "Do prosocial CEOs promote innovation?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).
    5. El Ghoul, Sadok & Gong, Zhaoran (Jason) & Guedhami, Omrane & Hou, Fangfang & Tong, Wilson H.S., 2023. "Social trust and firm innovation," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    6. Ding, Xiaoya (Sara) & Guo, Mengmeng & Kuai, Yicheng & Niu, Geng, 2023. "Social trust and firm innovation: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 474-493.
    7. Tongxia Li & Chun Lu, 2023. "Local social environment and the speed of leverage adjustment," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 1919-1952, June.
    8. Ran Zhou & Yali Zhao, 2024. "Alien merchant chambers and enterprise innovation: Evidence from China," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 83(3), pages 527-554, May.
    9. Atul Gupta & Kristina Minnick, 2022. "Social capital and managerial opportunism: Evidence from option backdating," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 45(3), pages 579-605, September.
    10. John (Jianqiu) Bai & Chenguang Shang & Chi Wan & Yijia Eddie Zhao, 2022. "Social Capital and Individual Ethics: Evidence from Financial Adviser Misconduct," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(2), pages 495-518, November.
    11. Guo, Mengmeng & Wang, Huixin & Kuai, Yicheng, 2023. "Environmental regulation and green innovation: Evidence from heavily polluting firms in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    12. Ullah, G M Wali & Cavoli, Tony & Khan, Isma & Abdullah, Mohammad, 2024. "The impact of social capital on major customer supply chain power," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    13. Hossain, Ashrafee & Hossain, Takdir & Jha, Anand & Mougoué, Mbodja, 2023. "Credit ratings and social capital," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    14. Marco Maria Mattei & Petya Platikanova, 2023. "Enhancing bank transparency: Financial reporting quality, fraudulent peers and social capital," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(3), pages 3419-3454, September.

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