IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jecfin/v48y2024i2d10.1007_s12197-024-09661-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The impact of corporate ethical standards on the liquidity of non-U.S. stocks: an examination of the Chinese Melamine Scandal

Author

Listed:
  • Teressa Elliott

    (Northern Kentucky University)

  • Jang-Chul Kim

    (Northern Kentucky University)

  • Ha-Chin Yi

    (Texas State University)

Abstract

Our study investigates the relationship among liquidity, information asymmetry, and business ethics for non-U.S. stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Our results show that non-U.S. stocks from countries with lower ethical standards tend to have wider spreads and a larger price impact of trades. To explore the impact of corporate ethical standards on liquidity and information asymmetry, we analyze the 2008 Chinese Melamine Scandal which involved the contamination of infant formula and other food products with the toxic chemical melamine, causing widespread illness and several deaths. Our findings reveal that after the scandal announcement, market liquidity and information asymmetry for non-U.S. stocks from China worsened. Overall, our study provides evidence that negative shocks resulting from corporate ethical lapses, such as the Chinese Melamine Scandal, can significantly impact the liquidity and information asymmetry of non-U.S. stocks from countries with compromised ethical standards.

Suggested Citation

  • Teressa Elliott & Jang-Chul Kim & Ha-Chin Yi, 2024. "The impact of corporate ethical standards on the liquidity of non-U.S. stocks: an examination of the Chinese Melamine Scandal," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 48(2), pages 394-418, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jecfin:v:48:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s12197-024-09661-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s12197-024-09661-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12197-024-09661-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12197-024-09661-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Doidge, Craig & Karolyi, G. Andrew & Stulz, Rene M., 2004. "Why are foreign firms listed in the U.S. worth more?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 205-238, February.
    2. Ronald J. Gilson, 2022. "Corporate Governance versus Real Governance," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 34(2), pages 8-16, June.
    3. Luigi Guiso & Paola Sapienza & Luigi Zingales, 2004. "The Role of Social Capital in Financial Development," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(3), pages 526-556, June.
    4. Pankaj K. Jain & Jang‐Chul Kim & Zabihollah Rezaee, 2008. "The Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002 and Market Liquidity," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 43(3), pages 361-382, August.
    5. Chung, Kee H. & Elder, John & Kim, Jang-Chul, 2010. "Corporate Governance and Liquidity," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 45(2), pages 265-291, April.
    6. Chung, Huimin, 2006. "Investor protection and the liquidity of cross-listed securities: Evidence from the ADR market," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 1485-1505, May.
    7. French, Kenneth R & Poterba, James M, 1991. "Investor Diversification and International Equity Markets," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 81(2), pages 222-226, May.
    8. repec:bla:jfinan:v:58:y:2003:i:2:p:921-938 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Jiuchang Wei & Zhe Ouyang & Haipeng (Allan) Chen, 2017. "Well Known or Well Liked? The Effects of Corporate Reputation on Firm Value at the Onset of a Corporate Crisis," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(10), pages 2103-2120, October.
    10. Joshua D. Coval & Tobias J. Moskowitz, 1999. "Home Bias at Home: Local Equity Preference in Domestic Portfolios," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 54(6), pages 2045-2073, December.
    11. Feenstra, Robert C. & Hong, Chang & Ma, Hong & Spencer, Barbara J., 2013. "Contractual versus non-contractual trade: The role of institutions in China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 281-294.
    12. Xin Yu & Peng Zhang & Ying Zheng, 2015. "Corporate Governance, Political Connections, and Intra-Industry Effects: Evidence from Corporate Scandals in China," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 44(1), pages 49-80, March.
    13. Jain, Pankaj K. & Kuvvet, Emre & Pagano, Michael S., 2017. "Corruption’s impact on foreign portfolio investment," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 23-35.
    14. Maobin Wang & Chun Qiu & Dongmin Kong, 2011. "Corporate Social Responsibility, Investor Behaviors, and Stock Market Returns: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 101(1), pages 127-141, June.
    15. René M. Stulz, 1999. "Golbalization, Corporate Finance, And The Cost Of Capital," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 12(3), pages 8-25, September.
    16. repec:bla:jfinan:v:59:y:2004:i:2:p:711-753 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Ellis, Katrina & Michaely, Roni & O'Hara, Maureen, 2000. "The Accuracy of Trade Classification Rules: Evidence from Nasdaq," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 35(4), pages 529-551, December.
    18. Xiu, Changbai & Klein, K.K., 2010. "Melamine in milk products in China: Examining the factors that led to deliberate use of the contaminant," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 463-470, October.
    19. Paul Brockman & Dennis Y. Chung, 2003. "Investor Protection and Firm Liquidity," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 58(2), pages 921-937, April.
    20. John C. Coffee, 2005. "A Theory of Corporate Scandals: Why the USA and Europe Differ," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 21(2), pages 198-211, Summer.
    21. Harold Demsetz, 1968. "The Cost of Transacting," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 82(1), pages 33-53.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fatemi, Darius & Kim, Jang-Chul, 2024. "Information asymmetry in non-US stocks: The compounding and mitigating effects of tax havens and corruption," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    2. Jang-Chul Kim & Kaun Y. Lee & Ha-Chin Yi, 2024. "Liquidity difference between non-U.S. and U.S. IPOs on the NYSE listings," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 365-387, January.
    3. Silva, Ana Cristina & Chávez, Gonzalo A., 2008. "Cross-listing and liquidity in emerging market stocks," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 420-433, March.
    4. Cannizzaro, Anthony P. & Weiner, Robert J., 2015. "Multinational investment and voluntary disclosure: Project-level evidence from the petroleum industry," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 32-47.
    5. Laeven, Luc & Chhaochharia, Vidhi, 2008. "Sovereign Wealth Funds: Their Investment Strategies and Performance," CEPR Discussion Papers 6959, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    6. Pevzner, Mikhail & Xie, Fei & Xin, Xiangang, 2015. "When firms talk, do investors listen? The role of trust in stock market reactions to corporate earnings announcements," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(1), pages 190-223.
    7. Fedenia, Mark & Shafer, Sherrill & Skiba, Hilla, 2013. "Information immobility, industry concentration, and institutional investors’ performance," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 2140-2159.
    8. Pham, Thu Phuong & Singh, Harminder & Vu, Van Hoang, 2023. "The impact of bank loan announcements on stock liquidity," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 848-864.
    9. Xuan Vinh Vo, 2023. "Large Shareholders And Information Asymmetry In A Transition Economy €“ Evidence From Vietnam," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 68(05), pages 1551-1567, September.
    10. Jang-Chul Kim & Qing Su, 2024. "Political ratings, government quality, and liquidity: evidence from Non-U.S. energy stocks listed on the NYSE," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 48(3), pages 614-643, September.
    11. Hamdan Amer Al-Jaifi & Ahmed Hussein Al-rassas & Adel Ali AL-Qadasi, 2017. "Corporate governance strength and stock market liquidity in Malaysia," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(5), pages 592-610, August.
    12. Araújo, Gustavo Silva & Barbedo, Claudio Henrique da S. & Vicente, José Valentim M., 2014. "The adverse selection cost component of the spread of Brazilian stocks," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 21-41.
    13. Sanggyu Kang & Chune Young Chung & Amirhossein Fard, 2024. "Does geographic or market proximity matter? Evidence from institutional investor monitoring on earnings attributes in US cross‐listed stocks," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 76(2), pages 443-469, April.
    14. Ali, Searat & Liu, Benjamin & Su, Jen Je, 2017. "Corporate governance and stock liquidity dimensions: Panel evidence from pure order-driven Australian market," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 275-304.
    15. Ghadhab, Imen & M’rad, Mouna, 2018. "Does US cross-listing come with incremental benefit for already UK cross-listed firms," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 188-204.
    16. Ghadhab, Imen & Hellara, Slaheddine, 2016. "Cross-listing and value creation," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 37, pages 1-11.
    17. Arslan-Ayaydin, Özgür & Chen, Shimin & Ni, Serene Xu & Thewissen, James, 2022. "Is cross-listing a panacea for improving earnings quality? The case of H- and B-share firms in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    18. Anderson, Christopher W. & Fedenia, Mark & Hirschey, Mark & Skiba, Hilla, 2011. "Cultural influences on home bias and international diversification by institutional investors," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 916-934, April.
    19. Cortes, Felipe & Gomes, Armando & Gopalan, Radhakrishnan, 2021. "Corporate Inversions and Governance," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    20. Duan, Zhixin & Hu, Mingsheng, 2024. "Dig the treasure nearby: The impact of local supplier preference on trade credit financing," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PA), pages 629-650.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Liquidity; Information asymmetry; Business ethics; Chinese Melamine Scandal;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jecfin:v:48:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s12197-024-09661-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.