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The impact of investor protection law on corporate policy and performance: evidence from the blue sky laws

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  • Agrawal, Ashwini K.

Abstract

Recent studies have debated the impact of investor protection law on corporate behavior and value. I exploit the staggered passage of state securities fraud statutes (“blue sky laws”) in the United States to estimate the causal effects of investor protection law on firm financing decisions and investment activity. The statutes induce firms to increase dividends, issue equity, and grow in size. The laws also facilitate improvements in operating performance and market valuations. Overall, the evidence is strongly supportive of theoretical models that predict investor protection law has a significant impact on corporate policy and performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Agrawal, Ashwini K., 2013. "The impact of investor protection law on corporate policy and performance: evidence from the blue sky laws," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 69607, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:69607
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    corporate governance; corporate finance; investor protection; legal environment; law and economics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • K22 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Business and Securities Law

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