The Agency Costs of Managerial Indiscretions Sex, Lies, and Firm Value


Speaker


Abstract

We examine a sample of executives accused of indiscretions in their personal lives for actions explicitly unrelated to the operations of their firm. These include accusations of violence, substance abuse, dishonesty, and sexual misadventure. While these actions are personal in nature, we find that they signal significant agency costs for the firm. Companies of accused executives experience significant short-term and long-term wealth losses, and reduced operating performance in the period surrounding the alleged indiscretion. These firms are also more likely to be involved in shareholder-initiated lawsuits, DOJ/SEC investigations, and are significantly more likely to manage their earnings.

This event is an Erasmus Finance Seminar. The Erasmus Finance Seminar series brings prominent researchers in Finance from all over the world to Rotterdam