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Journal of Financial Economics Vol. 108 No. 3 2013

Gender and corporate finance: Are male executives overconfident relative to female executives?

Jiekun Huang1; Darren J. Kisgen2

1 National University of Singapore · 2 Boston College

Abstract

We examine corporate financial and investment decisions made by female executives compared with male executives. Male executives undertake more acquisitions and issue debt more often than female executives. Further, acquisitions made by firms with male executives have announcement returns approximately 2% lower than those made by female executive firms, and debt issues also have lower announcement returns for firms with male executives. Female executives place wider bounds on earnings estimates and are more likely to exercise stock options early. This evidence suggests men exhibit relative overconfidence in significant corporate decision making compared with women.

DOI
10.1016/j.jfineco.2012.12.005
Volume
108
Issue
3
Pages
822-839
Language
en
Sources
crossref openalex bibtex:phds-export.bib

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