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Learning in Financial Markets: Implications for Debt-Equity Conflicts

Author

Listed:
  • Jesse Davis
  • Naveen Gondhi

Abstract

Financial markets reveal information that firm managers can utilize when making equity value-enhancing investment decisions. However, for firms with risky debt, such investments are not necessarily socially efficient. Despite this friction, we show that learning from prices improves investment efficiency. This effect is asymmetric, however, as investors learn less about projects that decrease the riskiness of cash flows: efficiency is lower for diversifying investments than for focusing (risk-increasing) investments. This also implies that investors’ endogenous learning further attenuates risk shifting but amplifies debt overhang. Our model provides a novel channel through which learning from financial markets affects agency frictions between stakeholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Jesse Davis & Naveen Gondhi, 2024. "Learning in Financial Markets: Implications for Debt-Equity Conflicts," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 37(5), pages 1584-1639.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rfinst:v:37:y:2024:i:5:p:1584-1639.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/rfs/hhad083
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    D82; D83; G14; G31;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies

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