To make high-quality research more accessible and easier to explore.

Fields:

In-Kind Transfers and Work Incentives

Journal of Labor Economics 1988 6(4), 515-529
Recent developments in rationing theory are used to examine the differences between the effects of in-kind and cash transfers on labor supply. It is not possible to tell a priori which type of transfer will cause the greater reduction in hours of work; the answer depends on the extent to which in-kind transfers distort consumption choices and on the relationship between the transferred commodities and leisure. Hicks-Allen complements can cause greater reductions in labor supply than equally generous cash transfers, while strong Hicks-Allen substitutes can induce increases in market work.

Banking Panics, Information, and Rational Expectations Equilibrium

Journal of Finance 1988 43(3), 749
This paper shows that bank runs can be modeled as an equilibrium phenomenon. We demonstrate that some aspects of the intuitive “story” that bank runs start with fears of insolvency of banks can be rigorously modeled. If individuals observe long “lines” at the bank, they correctly infer that there is a possibility that the bank is about to fail and precipitate a bank run. However, bank runs occur even when no one has any adverse information. Extra market constraints such as suspension of convertibility can prevent bank runs and result in superior allocations.

Seasonalities in security returns

Journal of Financial Economics 1988 21(1), 101-121
We document a seasonal pattern in stock returns around quarterly earnings announcement dates: small firms show large positive abnormal returns and a sizable increase in the variability of returns around these dates. Only part of the large abnormal returns can be accounted for by the tendency of firms with good news to announce early. Large firms show no abnormal returns around announcement dates and a much smaller increase in variability.

Banking Panics, Information, and Rational Expectations Equilibrium

Journal of Finance 1988 43(3), 749-761
This paper shows that bank runs can be modeled as an equilibrium phenomenon. We demonstrate that some aspects of the intuitive “story” that bank runs start with fears of insolvency of banks can be rigorously modeled. If individuals observe long “lines” at the bank, they correctly infer that there is a possibility that the bank is about to fail and precipitate a bank run. However, bank runs occur even when no one has any adverse information. Extra market constraints such as suspension of convertibility can prevent bank runs and result in superior allocations.

The Optimal Depletion and Exploration of a Nonrenewable Resource

Econometrica 1988 56(6), 1467
IN SPITE OF ITS IMPORTANCE, the exploration process has not received much attention in the economics of nonrenewable resources. Among the researchers who investigated this problem, we might mention Arrow and Chang (1982), Deshmukh and Pliska (1980), Pindyck (1978, 1980), and Gilbert (1979, 1981). For earlier work on this subject, we might also mention Gaffney (1967) and Herfindahl (1974). Basically, an exploration program is a search for potential deposits whose sizes and locations are both uncertain. Furthermore, exploration technology exhibits a high degree of scale economies. Our paper represents an attempt to deal with these rather neglected aspects of the exploration process in a model of simultaneous extraction and exploration.

Risk aversion, uncertain information, and market efficiency

Journal of Financial Economics 1988 22(2), 355-385
This paper develops and tests the uncertain information hypothesis as a means of explaining the response of rational, risk-averse investors to the arrival of unanticipated information. The theory predicts that following news of a dramatic financial event, both the risk and expected return of the affected companies increase systematically, and that prices react more strongly to bad news than good. An empirical investigation of over 9000 marketwide and firm-specific events produces results consistent with these predictions. We conclude that the market reacts to uncertain information in an efficient, if not instantaneous, manner.

Firm Characteristics, Unanticipated Inflation, and Stock Returns

Journal of Finance 1988 43(4), 965-981 open access
This paper re‐examines the effects of nominal contracts on the relationship between unanticipated inflation and an individual stock's rate of return. This study differs in three main ways from previous research. First, announced inflation data are used to examine the effects of unanticipated inflation. Second, a different specification is used to obtain more efficient estimates. Third, additional nominal contracts are considered. The empirical results indicate that time‐varying firm characteristics related to inflation predominately determine the effect of unanticipated inflation on a stock's rate of return. A firm's debt‐equity ratio appears to be particularly important in determining the response.

Firm Characteristics, Unanticipated Inflation, and Stock Returns

Journal of Finance 1988 open access
This paper re-examines the effects of nominal contracts on the relationship between unanticipated inflation and individual stock's rate of return. This study differs in three main ways from previous research. First, announced inflation data are used to examine the effects of unanticipated inflation. Second, a different specification is used to obtain more efficient estimates. Third, additional nominal contracts are considered. The empirical results indicate that time-varying firm characteristics related to inflation predominately determine the effect of unanticipated inflation on a stock's rate of return. A firm's debt-equity ratio appears to be particularly important in determining the response.