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Silence Is Safest Information Disclosure When the Audience's Preferences Are Uncertain

Resource type
Authors/contributors
Title
Silence Is Safest Information Disclosure When the Audience's Preferences Are Uncertain
Abstract
We examine voluntary disclosure decisions when firms are uncertain about audience preferences and are risk averse. In contrast to classic “unraveling” results, some firms remain silent in equilibrium. Silence is safer than disclosure; silence reduces the sensitivity of a firm’s payoff to audience preferences. Increases in firm (audience) risk-aversion reduce (increase) disclosure. Our model explains why some firms do not disclose earnings breakdowns, executive compensation, or Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance when they face diverse audiences, and why they disclose less under regulatory rules mandating that disclosure be entirely public.
Publication
Journal of Financial Economics
Volume
145
Issue
S0304405X2100369X
Pages
178-193
Date
2022
Citation
Bond, P., & Zeng, Y. (2022). Silence Is Safest Information Disclosure When the Audience’s Preferences Are Uncertain. Journal of Financial Economics, 145, 178–193.
Topic
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