Hedge fund investors play an increasingly influential role in shaping corporate behavior, yet their broader economic and social effects remain the subject of debate. In a new paper, we examine how hedge fund activism operates in family-controlled firms, a common …

Democratic institutions depend on public confidence to function effectively. Citizens comply with tax laws when they trust the IRS, cooperate with police when they view law enforcement as legitimate, and engage constructively with regulators they perceive as fair and effective. …

Over recent decades, the massive globalization of finance has led many observers to expect widespread harmonization of nations’ financial regulations. Yet, while there has been a remarkable degree of harmonization in some areas, at least at the regional level, considerable …

The recent scandal involving TD Securities LLC[1] has served as a stark reminder of the dark side of high-frequency trading. While this particular case has garnered significant attention, it is far from an isolated incident. Spoofing, a form of …

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts rejoiced when the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the listing of bitcoin – and ether-based exchange-traded products (ETPs) – on U.S. stock exchanges earlier this year. There is yet a certain irony in this outcome: Why did …

Economic downturns disrupt firms’ operations and strategic decisions and impair their financial health. During the recent pandemic, for example, many companies were forced to reduce expenses or lay off employees, driving the U.S. unemployment rate to 14.7 percent in 2020, …

Concerns that public policy and regulation have been ineffective in addressing climate change and similar challenges have led to a search for possible solutions in financial markets. Investor activism promoting socially responsible corporate practices, the rise in environmental and social …

Pension funds and other institutional investors rail against dual-class shares and other tiered voting structures while companies fight vigorously to defend them. The debate over the “one share one vote” doctrine is not, however, solely jurisprudential – economists have conducted …

A tremendous amount of capital has already been committed to environmental, social, and governance (ESG). With it has come mounting concern over monitoring and guiding the proper integration of ESG into firms. ESG integration is not straightforward due to the …

FTX[1] is a Bahamas-based cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2019 that, at its peak in 2021, had over 1 million users, making it the world’s third largest crypto exchange by volume. Since November 11, 2022, though, FTX has been in …

On June 21, 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) weighed in on the economic situation in Africa, and the news was not good.

“African economies are at a pivotal juncture,” the IMF said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has brought economic activity …

In a new article. I investigate how two financial markets of trillions of dollars each have developed extralegally in the past two decades, creating risks of regulatory enforcement actions and contract defaults. More specifically, I examine (1) how Chinese internet …

Trading in financial markets is increasingly dominated by algorithms. They enable trading at speeds and levels of adaptiveness that are impossible for human beings. A key question for the legal system is whether these algorithms will disrupt the efficiency and …

Financial markets affect the economy in a fundamental way by facilitating the creation of capital. The market for initial public offerings (IPO) – also known as the “primary market” – is especially important because it allows fast-growing and innovative companies …