A meta-analysis of the equity premium

The equity premium is a key parameter in asset allocation policies. There is a vigorous debate in the literature regarding the actual measurement of the equity premium, its size and the determinants of its variation. This study aims to take stock of this literature by means of a meta-analysis. We identify how the size of the equity premium depends on the way it is measured, along with its evolution over time and its variation across regions in the world. We find that the equity premium is significantly lower if measured by ex ante methods rather than ex post, in more recent periods, and for more developed countries. In addition, looking at the underlying fundamentals, we find that larger volatility in GDP growth tends to raise the equity premium while a higher nominal interest rate has a negative impact on the equity premium.     

Corporate Governance, Incentives, and Industry Consolidations

This article studies the determinants of the success of industryconsolidations using a unique sample of firms established atthe time of their initial public offering: roll-up IPOs. Inthese transactions, small, private firms merge into a shellcompany, which goes public at the same time. These firms deliverpoor stock returns; their operating performance mimics thatof comparable firms but does not justify their high initialvaluations. However, if the managers and owners of the firmsincluded in the transaction remain involved in the businessas shareholders and directors, operating and stock price performanceimprove, and future acquisitions are better received by themarket. Higher ownership by the sponsor of the transaction leadsto a reduction in performance, consistent with the view thatthe sponsor's compensation is excessive. These findings highlightthe impact of corporate governance on performance.     

A household production model of paid labor, household work and child care

In this paper we use data on time allocation of women to estimate the value of market and non-market work. Four time use categories are distinguished: paid work, houshold work, care for children, and leisure. The estimation results show that the value of non-market production (household production and child care) is substantial and exceeds that of market production (paid work).     

Berliet, the obstructed manager: too clever, too soon?

Marius Berliet, a pioneer of the car industry, was one of the first to introduce Taylorism in France. He wanted to implement standard costing techniques in his company at the very same time they were conceived in the USA, around the time of the First World War. Given that this technique was to become popular in France only during the 1950s, this article seeks to understand the reasons which prevented it from being applied at Berliet's company forty years earlier. One obvious explanation is the burden of the cost accounting methods which prevailed in France until 1950. The paper also considers the hypothesis of a lack of interest, and skill by those who could have promoted this new technique, especially managers and engineers.     

From <Emphasis Type="Italic">The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance</Emphasis> to <Emphasis Type="Italic">The Geneva Risk and Insurance Review</Emphasis>

The Geneva Risk and Insurance Review celebrates in 2016 its 40^th year of existence. Yes. But it must be recalled that about half of these 40 years occurred under a different name—The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance. For a long time, the fate of the journal was very closely linked to the development of “The Geneva Association”.     

Productivity and Internationalization: A Micro-Data Approach

An appropriate analysis of the effects of globalization requires a careful analysis of the various ways in which different firms operate in international markets. Micro data at the level of individual firms and employees can enhance our empirical understanding of the relationships between internationalization, firms, jobs and employees. These micro data become increasingly available. This paper provides an introduction to this special issue that illustrates the wide variation, richness and policy relevance of the emerging micro data driven research on the effects of internationalization and productivity.     

Analyzing Potentials for Reducing the Energy Requirement of Households in The Netherlands

The energy requirement of households represents a useful concept in studying energy use in relation to production structures and consumption patterns. Reduction potentials of the energy requirement for households provide insight on the possibilities for reducing energy use in the whole economy. We determine reduction potentials by means of implementing energy conservation options in an input–output model for calculating the household energy requirement. The implementation of a set of technical energy conservation options results in a reduction in the energy requirement of Dutch households by 55%. The reduction potential based on a set of demand-side options is 9%. The combination of both sets of conservation options results in a reduction potential of 59%. Therefore, by combining (sets of) options, some effects are cancelled out.     

The Cost of Diversity: The Diversification Discount and Inefficient Investment

We model the distortions that internal power struggles can generate in the allocation of resources between divisions of a diversified firm. The model predicts that if divisions are similar in the level of their resources and opportunities, funds will be transferred from divisions with poor opportunities to divisions with good opportunities. When diversity in resources and opportunities increases, however, resources can flow toward the most inefficient division, leading to more inefficient investment and less valuable firms. We test these predictions on a panel of diversified U.S. firms during the period from 1980 to 1993 and find evidence consistent with them.