Transparency and Liquidity Uncertainty in Crisis Periods

58 Pages Posted: 7 Mar 2010 Last revised: 15 Aug 2016

See all articles by Mark H. Lang

Mark H. Lang

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Mark G. Maffett

University of Miami - Department of Accounting

Date Written: July 1, 2011

Abstract

We document, for a global sample, that firms with greater transparency (based on accounting standards, auditor choice, earnings management, analyst following and forecast accuracy) experience less liquidity volatility, fewer extreme illiquidity events and lower correlations between firm-level liquidity and both market liquidity and market returns. Results are robust to numerous sensitivity analyses, including controls for endogeneity and propensity matching. Results are particularly pronounced during crises, when liquidity variances, covariances and extreme illiquidity events increase substantially, but less so for transparent firms. Finally, liquidity variance, covariance and the frequency of extreme illiquidity events are all negatively correlated with Tobin’s Q.

Keywords: Liquidity, Transparency, Financial Crises, Commonality, International Accounting

JEL Classification: G01, G15, G30

Suggested Citation

Lang, Mark H. and Maffett, Mark G., Transparency and Liquidity Uncertainty in Crisis Periods (July 1, 2011). Journal of Accounting & Economics (JAE), Vol. 52, pp. 101-125, 2011, Fifth Singapore International Conference on Finance 2011 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1565776

Mark H. Lang

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ( email )

Kenan-Flagler Business School
McColl Building
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3490
United States
919-962-1644 (Phone)
919-962-4727 (Fax)

Mark G. Maffett (Contact Author)

University of Miami - Department of Accounting ( email )

Coral Gables, FL 33146-6531
United States

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