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

Fields:
2 results

Silent Suffering: Using Machine Learning to Measure CEO Depression

Journal of Accounting Research 2025 63(2), 689-767 open access
We introduce a novel measure of CEO depression by applying machine learning models that analyze vocal acoustic features from CEOs' conference call recordings. Our research was preregistered via the Journal of Accounting Research 's registration‐based editorial process. In this study, we validate this measure and examine associated factors. We find that greater firm risk is positively associated with CEO depression, whereas higher job demands are negatively associated with CEO depression. Female and older CEOs show a lower likelihood of depression. Using this novel measure, we then explore the relationship between CEO depression and career outcomes. Although we do not find any evidence that CEO depression is associated with CEO turnover, we find some evidence that turnover‐performance sensitivity is higher among depressed CEOs. We also find limited evidence of higher compensation and higher pay‐performance sensitivity for depressed CEOs. This study provides new insights into the relationship between CEO mental health and career outcomes.

Mandatory disclosure and corporate green innovation

Review of Accounting Studies 2026 open access
We examine the relation between mandatory environmental disclosure and corporate green innovation. Adopting a difference-in-differences research design, we find that the adoption of state-level greenhouse gas emissions disclosure mandates is associated with an increase in the quantity of patents related to climate change mitigation/adaptation technologies (i.e., “green innovations”). This increase is stronger among firms with more environmental investors, suggesting investor preferences influence this relation. We also document a positive association between these mandates and firms’ future environmental performance ratings, suggesting a positive externality. However, we find that these mandates are associated with a reduction in future financial performance for some firms, suggesting a potential negative effect on shareholder welfare. Collectively, our results provide new evidence on the real effects of mandatory environmental disclosure and the determinants of green innovation and contribute to the literature on the motivations for green innovation and the literature on corporate disclosure and investment decisions.