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A Theory of Hard and Soft Information

Author

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  • Bertomeu, Jeremy

    (Baruch College, CUNY)

  • Marinovic, Ivan

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

We study optimal disclosure via two competing communication channels; hard information whose value has been verified and soft disclosures such as forecasts, unaudited statements and press releases. We show that certain soft disclosures may contain as much information as hard disclosures, and we establish that: (a) exclusive reliance on soft disclosures tends to convey bad news, (b) credibility is greater when unfavorable information is reported and (c) misreporting is more likely when soft information is issued jointly with hard information. We also show that a soft report that is seemingly unbiased in expectation need not indicate truthful reporting. We demonstrate that mandatory disclosure of hard information reduces the transmission of soft information, and that the aggregation of hard with soft information will turn all information soft.

Suggested Citation

  • Bertomeu, Jeremy & Marinovic, Ivan, 2015. "A Theory of Hard and Soft Information," Research Papers 3318, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:stabus:3318
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    File URL: http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/gsb-cmis/gsb-cmis-download-auth/403586
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jeremy Bertomeu & Igor Vaysman & Wenjie Xue, 2021. "Voluntary versus mandatory disclosure," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 658-692, June.
    2. Eduard Alonso‐Pauli & Lluís Bru, 2020. "A note on the impact of the internal organization on the accuracy of the information transmitted within the firm," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(6), pages 902-910, September.
    3. Liu, Shuo & Migrow, Dimitri, 2022. "When does centralization undermine adaptation?," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    4. Versano, Tsahi, 2021. "Silence can be golden: On the value of allowing managers to keep silent when information is soft," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(2).
    5. Jeremy Bertomeu & Edwige Cheynel & Eric Floyd & Wenqiang Pan, 2021. "Using machine learning to detect misstatements," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 468-519, June.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • 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
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General

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