We use new data from rural and semi-urban Thailand to examine how financial constraints affect entrepreneurial activity. The analysis uses nonparametric and reduced form techniques. The results indicate that financial constraints play an important role in shaping the patterns of entrepreneurship in Thailand. In particular, wealthier households are more likely to start businesses. Wealthier households are also more likely to invest more in their businesses and face fewer constraints. We also provide evidence that financial constraints place greater restrictions on entrepreneurial activity in the poor Northeast compared to the more developed Central region.

We investigate external and internal corporate governance activity observed at Japanese banks over 1985–1996. External governance appears to be inactive, and even after the onset of the banking crisis of the 1990s there are few mergers, failures, and other changes in ownership and control. Prior to the banking crisis we do not find a relation between bank performance and executive turnover. In contrast, non-routine turnover of bank presidents is inversely related to both stock returns and profitability in the 1990s. Consequently, internal governance activity is observable following the onset of the Japanese banking crisis, a period otherwise characterized by inactive external governance and regulatory forbearance.