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Retail shareholder participation in the proxy process: Monitoring, engagement, and voting

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  • Brav, Alon
  • Cain, Matthew
  • Zytnick, Jonathon

Abstract

We study retail shareholder voting using a nearly comprehensive sample of U.S. ownership and voting records. Analyzing turnout within a rational-choice framework, we find participation increases with ownership and expected benefits from winning and decreases with higher costs of participation. Even shareholders with a negligible likelihood of affecting the outcome have non zero turnout, consistent with consumption benefits from voting. Conditional on participation, retail shareholders punish the management of poorly performing firms. Overall, our evidence provides support for the idea that retail shareholders utilize their voting power to monitor firms and communicate with incumbent boards and management.

Suggested Citation

  • Brav, Alon & Cain, Matthew & Zytnick, Jonathon, 2022. "Retail shareholder participation in the proxy process: Monitoring, engagement, and voting," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(2), pages 492-522.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:144:y:2022:i:2:p:492-522
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2021.07.013
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    2. Gow, Ian D. & Larcker, David F. & Watts, Edward M., 2023. "Board diversity and shareholder voting," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    3. Anne-Marie Anderson & Nandu Nayar, 2022. "Can regulation enhancing the shareholder franchise increase firm value?," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 191-221, June.
    4. Wang, Qiong & Qiu, Muqing, 2023. "Strength in numbers: Minority shareholders' participation and executives' pay-performance sensitivity," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
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    6. Kogana, Shimon & Makarov, Igor & Niessnerc, Marina & Schoar, Antoinette, 2024. "Are cryptos different? Evidence from retail trading," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 122266, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Wang, Qiong & Qiu, Muqing, 2023. "Minority shareholders' activism and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    8. Kogan, Shimon & Makarov, Igor & Niessner, Marina & Schoar, Antoinette, 2024. "Are cryptos different? Evidence from retail trading," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    9. Lee, Eugenia Y. & Ha, Wonsuk, 2023. "Electronic voting in shareholder meetings and the market value of cash holdings," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    10. Zhao, Yang, 2024. "Retail shareholder activism and investment efficiency," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Retail voting; Shareholder proposal; Proxy advisory firm; Corporate governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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