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Analyst distance and credit rating consistency

Author

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  • Altdörfer, Marc
  • Guettler, Andre
  • Löffler, Gunter

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the effect of analyst distance on the assignment of credit ratings and show that issuers with analysts located in more distant offices obtain more conservative ratings than issuers with analysts located closer. Our results are robust to an analyst home bias and suggest that more distant analysts are subject to an informational disadvantage when conducting their rating analysis. Given an asymmetric reputational cost function that penalizes an overestimation of credit quality more heavily than an underestimation, assigning more conservative ratings is a rational response to the higher levels of information uncertainty that a greater distance can entail.

Suggested Citation

  • Altdörfer, Marc & Guettler, Andre & Löffler, Gunter, 2024. "Analyst distance and credit rating consistency," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jimfin:v:143:y:2024:i:c:s0261560624000421
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jimonfin.2024.103055
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Credit ratings; Analyst distance; Home bias; Default risk; Analysts;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage

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