lukestein’s avatarlukestein’s Twitter Archive—№ 945

    1. Planning to tweet a few papers from the FRA conference in Las Vegas, starting now. #FRA2019
  1. …in reply to @lukestein
    First up: Vincent Glode discussing “Venture Capital Contracts” by Ewens @startupecon, Gorbenko, and Korteweg. Structural model of search and matching between investors and entrepreneurs, negotiating endogeneous contracts. Calibrate w new, big(gest) VC contract dataset. #FRA2019
    1. …in reply to @lukestein
      Func. form assumptions on firm value (incl. multiplicative separability between value driven by [1] investor and entrepreneur characteristics and [2] contract terms). Estimation focused on VC equity share, participation rights, pay-to-play provisions, and board seats. #FRA2019
      1. …in reply to @lukestein
        BTW, may want to mute me for ~36 hours if financial economics conference livetweeting isn’t your jam. Sorry! #FRA2019
        1. …in reply to @lukestein
          Estimated parameters imply contract that maximizes firm value features: - 16% equity share for VC - no participation rights - a pay-to-play provision - no board representation ※ Typical contract doesn’t really look quite like this. 🤔 #FRA2019
          1. …in reply to @lukestein
            Vincent assesses the paper favorably against Luke Taylor’s rubric for structural estimation in empirical corp fin (see pic), but suggests a few first-order things are missing eg - Non-random search by entrepreneurs - Asymmetric information - (Idiosyncratic) risk aversion #FRA2019
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            1. …in reply to @lukestein
              Gorobenko (author): [my paraphrase] ~ ”We don’t think of this as full-blown structural model, more like a fancy Heckman-like selection model.” Directed search partly captured by a correlation coefficient in model (?). Working on some other suggested extensions. #FRA2019
              1. …in reply to @lukestein
                Next up: Ayako Yasuda on “Private Equity Indices Based on Secondary Market Transactions” (Boyer, Ndauld, Vorkink, Weisbach) Secondary PE part of broader phenomenon incl. - Fewer IPOs - Companies going private - MF/HF putting more money into PE #FRA2019
                1. …in reply to @lukestein
                  Authors build PE return index using observed secondary market prices of PE interests 2006–2017. Extrapolates price of not-for-sale stakes usig Heckman selection “hedonic” model with economy and fund chars as controls. [N.B. 2nd mention of Heckman selection this hour!] #FRA2019
                  1. …in reply to @lukestein
                    Yasuda notes: Only 8–15 transactions per quarter to estimate pricing equation. So authors do pooled estimate, but sensitivity of price to fund attributes likely to be time-varying (e.g., through financial crisis). #FRA2019
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                    1. …in reply to @lukestein
                      Also, Yasuda notes that PE is NOT “just ownership of bundle of companies in portfolio, but also the contractual obligation to pay for future purchases of more companies.” THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT and likely also has time-varying effects. #FRA2019
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                      1. …in reply to @lukestein
                        Heckman instrument here is percentage of pension funds in fund. Intuition is pensions have long horizons. Yasuda raises concerns about validity of exclusion restriction: pension holding rates don’t affect prices directly. #FRA2019
                        1. …in reply to @lukestein
                          Yasuda asks: How new is this? We know there are problems with “top-down” NAV-based indices (and we already have better alternative indices) so they may not be the right straw man to use to show that the new index is “better.” #FRA2019
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                          1. …in reply to @lukestein
                            Brian Boyer (author) response, noting that main advantage of their PE index is they are using *actual secondary-market transaction prices* that LPs are paying, so reflect liquidity discounts and other frictions. #FRA2019
                            1. …in reply to @lukestein
                              Quick note for anyone interested and following my #FRA2019 conference live-tweet: At this conference, authors don’t present their own papers; discussants present the paper as part of their discussion. Authors get to do a short response and Q&A.
                              1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                Success of the #FRA2019’s unique approach (discussants present the papers; authors only get to do a short response) makes me wonder why more econ/finance conferences don’t try alternative formats. For example, what the @ClioSociety does at their annual conf. looks very cool.
                                1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                  Alex Chinco asks a nice question about the Boyer et al. Private Equity index: Is it right to think (as we often do) of there being some “true” price of which we only get noisy/selected observations? [Price may be noisy signal of *value,* but the price is the price.] #FRA2019
                                  1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                    Why is it that using a price-based index results in a higher estimate of PE beta? (asks @startupecon) Boyer suggests that measurement error in other indices may be biasing towards zero. Also, “unique features” relative to buy-and-hold market. #FRA2019
                                    1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                      And we’re back from coffee break. Daniel Andrei presents/discusses Alex Chinco on “The Madness of Crowds and the Likelihood of Bubbles.” - Informed investors have dispersed information - Speculators get excited/apathetic, and excited buy based on price extrapolation #FRA2019
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                                      1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                        Equilibrium bubbles (price ≠ value) arise when returns exceed threshold determined by persuasiveness: r* = 1/𝜃. Empirics: Regress bubble (explosive growth followed by immediate crash) on persuasiveness (covariance between media coverage and previous month’s return) #FRA2019
                                        1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                          Andrei’s (big) “wow”: Theoretical link between social interaction and bubbles, supported by data (cf Bitcoin) Andrei’s (Small) “meh”s: - Model not necessary to make point? - Fails in equilibrium: speculators keep losing - Embedded asymmetry: bubbles but not panics #FRA2019
                                          1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                            Andrei proposes an alternative model that avoids some of his concerns about Chinco’s (though not all: speculators still keep losing) #FRA2019
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                                            1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                              Chinco: For bubbles you need (1) Dumb people (2) Reasons that arbitrageurs can’t fix the problem Thirty years of behavioral finance is making long lists of prospective causes (1) and (2). This paper is about turning (1)+(2) on and off. #FRA2019
                                              1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                Next paper: Stefan Lewellen presents/discusses Elizabeth Kempf and Margarita Tsoutsoura, “Partisan Professionals: Evidence From Credit Ratings Analysts.” Paper assesses whether individual partisan beliefs affect professional credit analysts’ ratings. ※ YES #FRA2019
                                                1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                  Hand-collected data on credit analysts’ voting records (NYC, NJ, and IL). ※ CRAs downgrade ~10% more frequently when their affiliation differes from current president ※ Credit spreads suggest partisan ratings are less accurate #FRA2019
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                                                  1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                    Lots of potential mechanisms; note effect is - Only present for domestic firms with high political risk - Stronger for more frequent (partisan?) voters - Stronger when partisan conflict high and before elections - Stronger for highly-rated firms #FRA2019
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                                                    1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                      By the way, S&P hires the most democrats (vs. Moody’s and Fitch). #FRA2019
                                                      1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                        Lewellen recommends an alternative pitch, since we already know that professionals suffer from biases. What’s more interesting is pushing on the mechanism. Try to test some! Heterogeneous effects? Textual analysis? Consequences for analysts? #FRA2019
                                                        1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                          Lewellen asks about identification: Is this partisan bias? Or could unobservable factors drive both assessment of economy and of companys’ risks? #FRA2019
                                                          1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                            Next up: @ProfSongMa presents/discusses “Technological Disruptiveness and the Evolution of IPOs and Sell-Outs” by Bowen, Frésard, and Hoberg. #FRA2019
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                                                            1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                              Paper connects 1. Technology (new text-based measure of technology disruptiveness) 2. Firms/IO (new mechanism suggesting firms with more disruptive tech more likely to IPO) 3. Growth (interaction of trends in tech and capital markets) #FRA2019
                                                              1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                BFH use textual analysis of patents to identify “tech disruptiveness” ≈ use of ‘hot’ words @ProfSongMa notes: - Surging in use means crowded area with lots of competition - Hot words may be catering to market over-valuation #FRA2019
                                                                1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                  BFH estimate competing risk hazard model (and OLS) to predict IPO and sell-out using the patent-based “tech disruptiveness” measure. ※ More disruptive tech. correlates with IPOs @ProfSongMa notes: Lots of potential mechanisms! (See pic) #FRA2019
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                                                                  1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                    BFH relate aggregate tech. disruptiveness and IPO trends. @ProfSongMa isn’t sure about intra-ocular time-series regression result🧐. Also, causality?? #FRA2019
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                                                                    1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                      Bowen makes a few important points in response to @ProfSongMa: - There are (obviously) better tech disruptiveness measures, but it’s important that they’ve constrained to using those available ex ante (i.e., no lookahead) - BFH are *not* claiming causality #FRA2019
                                                                      1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                        Last paper of the afternoon: Ran Duchin presents/discusses “Public Ownership and the Local Economy” by Jess Cornaggia, Matt Gustafson, @JasonKotter, and Kevin Pisciotta. Big question: What are effects of stock market on the real economy? #FRA2019
                                                                        1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                          Scumpeter (1969): Finance *causes* growth Robinson (1952): Finance *follows* growth (John Adams?): Finance *harms* growth CGKP engages, specifically around public equity markets. cc: @JasonKotter #FRA2019
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                                                                          1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                            CGKP framework: IPO improves firm visibility in market place → lower info asymmetry between firm and suppliers → changes in bargaining power and relative prices of local vs. non-local inputs. cc: @JasonKotter #FRA2019
                                                                            1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                              Empirics: Using sample of county-years with ≥1 IPO filing, compare completed and withdrawn IPOs (using Shai Bernstein instrument for IPO success). CGKP find: IPOs have *negative* impact on headquarters county employment, population, and wage growth. cc: @JasonKotter #FRA2019
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                                                                              1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                But but but! Duchin worries about CGKP exclusion restriction: Instrument (based on Nasdaq returns) can drive local outcomes in IPO-intensive counties! Also worried that Butler, Fauver, and Spyridopoulos (JFQA cond. accept) seem to find opposite. cc: @JasonKotter #FRA2019
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                                                                                1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                  And that’s a wrap. See you tomorrow with more papers from #FRA2019!
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                                                                                  1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                    We’re back! Just about ready to start day two of the #FRA2019 conference. Caution: If you aren’t looking for financial economics papers, may want to mute me for today. @lukestein/1071502562614865920
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                                                                                      First up today: Brett Green presents/discusses “Better Monitoring... Worse Productivity?” by John Zhu of @Wharton #FRA2019
                                                                                      1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                        Zhu has repeated principal/agent game with contracting determining transfers and continuation decision. Builds on existing dynamic contracting models. In companion paper, Zhu (AEJ, forthcoming) argues Fuchs-style contract is unreasonable.
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                                                                                        1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                          Companion paper: Offers a particular equilbrium refinement (≈ no benefit from a particular form of renegotiation). Characterizes optimal contract structure under refinement, and solves it numerically. Here: Characterizes effort provision under different stochastic technologies.
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                                                                                          1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                            Green’s takeaways: Wouldn’t expect to find in data better monitoring → worse productivity. Instead, in settings where performance measures are subective, (1) formal review periods are critical, (2) firms should limit or discourage informal feedback → compensation/termination
                                                                                            1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                              Next up: Kelly Shue presents/discusses “Product Proliferation as Price Obfuscation: Evidence From the Mortgage Market” by Lu Liu (a third-year PhD student at Imperial College London, a student of @TRamadorai et al.’s).
                                                                                              1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                Picking a mortgage is complex. 3–4× increase in number of products offered in UK. Even within homogeneous product class, many offers are dominated!
                                                                                                1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                  Substantial dispersion in total cost (driven by more salient interest rates and less salient fees). Liu’s idea: Lenders can use non-salient fees to obfuscate total cost.
                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                    Liu offers model of mortgage pricing. To get interior solution for optimal fee, need to assume consumers are somewhat elastic to fees. Estimate model using @TimBartik-style shocks to lender-specific funding cost shocks: use of wholesale funding loans × LIBOR. #FRA2018
                                                                                                    1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                      Liu finds that as wholesale funding costs rise, total fees rise and products proliferate. Magnitude: ~1 sd increase in funding costs → GBP 60 increase in total fees. #FRA2018
                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                        Interesting note from Shue: US has long-term mortgages and rates quoted in 1/8 %s. UK has shorter terms and more granular rates → more flexibility to adjust total cost through interest rates (vs. fees). #FRA2018
                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                          Shue also notes lenders may have different preference for short-term revenue (fees) vs. long-term (rates). #FRA2018
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                                                                                                            Liu also shows that lenders tend to specialize in low-fee or high-fee products. #FRA2018
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                                                                                                              Shue suggests Liu’s data—with additional tests—may really be able to show: (1) Increase in relative costs causes lenders to increase prices through fees rather than interest rates (2) Borrow demand is more elastic wrt interest rates than fees #FRA2018
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                                                                                                                Last full paper of the #FRA2018: Terry Odean presents/discusses “What Do Investors Really Care About?” by Itzhak Ben-David, Jiacui Li, Andrea Rossi, and Yang Song
                                                                                                                1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                                  BLRS ask: What informatin do mutual fund investors pay attention to? 1. Morningstar ratings 2. Do not discount market factor returns 3. BHO’s results are driven by methodological error Odean (i.e., the “O” in BHO) doesn’t seem to agree with 2 or 3 #FRA2018
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                                                                                                                    BHO asks whether premia associated with size, value, momentum, beta due to risk? Or behavioral biases, regulations, market frictions, etc.? Argues if - Investors ignore factor → not risk factor - Investors attend to factor → may or may not be risk factor #FRA2018
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                                                                                                                      BHO estimate flow-performance sensitivities and argue that investors behave as if they are attending to market risk. But discount size, value, ..., much less. Cf. BvB test looks at fraction of fund-month observations where sign(model alpha) = sign(flow). #FRA2018
                                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                                        Odean argues that BHO results survive critiques suggested by BLRS, “but this is an intellectual exercise and we are happy to see our work criticized.” #FRA2018
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                                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                                          After the break, will be back with the #FRA2018 Early Ideas Session. These are short presentations (three slides?), and audience is asked to provide written feedback to authors 👍🏼👎🏼 Also, apologizing for getting ahead of myself and using hashtag #FRA2019 yesterday🤦🏻‍♂️
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                                                                                                                          1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                                            First up: Shaun Davies on an idea about whether ETF flows provide exogenous variation in stock prices? Lots of papers rely on asset market externalities to identify causation (e.g., in CF). ETF flows generate price distortions in underlyings. (More $ in ETFs than HF!) #FRA2018
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                                                                                                                              Looks like there is non-linearity in relation between value-weights and price impact of ETF flows. What questions (perhaps in empirical corp finance?) could use this shock to share prices? #FRA2018
                                                                                                                              1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                                                A couple of audience questions for Davies et al. about exogeneity of ETF flows. (Seems like it should depend on the outcome?!) #FRA2018
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                                                                                                                                  Next up, Will Gerken (@universityofky) and coauthors with an idea titled “Born to be Bad.” Turns out that where a financial advisor grew up is highly associated with subsequent rates of misconduct. See pic for a summary stat about Staten Island! #FRA2018
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                                                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                                                    Micah Officer (@LoyolaMarymount) pitches an idea (with Tingting Liu at @IowaStateU) about trying to get “inside the ‘black box’ of private merger negotiations.” Puzzle about M&A market after 1990: Big premiums despite lack of competing offers, hostile offers, etc. #FRA2018
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                                                                                                                                      Officer wants to build on Boone and Mulherin (2007 JF) using hand-collected SEC filings details about bidding during private M&A negotiation period. E.g., finds that despite few bid revisions during public process, lots of (positive) revisions during private process. #FRA2018
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                                                                                                                                        #FRA2018 “Early Ideas” session number four: @ctrzcinka (with Abhi Ganguli) asks “Do Activist Hedge Funds Avoid Overconfident Managers?” Why doesn’t market correct value destruction from overconfident CEOs?
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                                                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                                                          #FRA2018 “early idea” from Eitan Goldman (@IndianaUniv) et al. asking “Is Financial News Politically Biased?” Analyze articles in @WSJ and @nytimes 1990–2016 about public companies. Also measure co.s’ alignment based on political donations.
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                                                                                                                                            LAST PRESENTATION! Jeff Pontiff presents an early idea with Caitlin Dannhauser about “Flows.” (Not sure what @SayWhatYouFound would approve of this awesome, pithy title, but this is an “early ideas” session.) #FRA2018
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                                                                                                                                              Pontiff: Want to provide “apples-to-apples comparisons of flows” to - Active mutual funds - Passive mutual funds - ETFs Preliminary: 1. Passives’ flows are 2× as volatilie as actives’ 2. Flow-performance sensitivity: ETF > Active > Index 3. MF have smart money flows, ETFs don’t
                                                                                                                                              1. …in reply to @lukestein
                                                                                                                                                Pontiff preliminary findings (cont.): 4. Convexity: ETF > Active > Index 5. Flows chase expense ratios: ETF ≫ Active > Index 6. Flow/trading relation: ETF and active > Index 7. Fire sales: ETF stocks experience fire sales (more than index or active) #FRA2018
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                                                                                                                                                  And that’s a wrap! Well deserved awards announced at dinner: Worst poker player in finance: Will Gerkin Best poker player: Chris Clifford Best PhD paper: Li Liu Best discussant: Daniel Andrei Best paper (tie): Elizabeth Kempf/Margarita Tsoutsoura, Alex Chinco #FRA2018