Effects of Culture on Firm Risk-Taking: A Cross-Country and Cross-Industry Analysis
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Summary:
This paper investigates the effects of national culture on firm risk-taking, using a comprehensive dataset covering 50,000 firms in 400 industries in 51 countries. Risk-taking is found to be higher for domestic firms in countries with low uncertainty aversion, low tolerance for hierarchical relationships, and high individualism. Domestic firms in such countries tend to take substantially more risk in industries which are more informationally opaque (e.g. finance, mining, IT). Risk-taking by foreign firms is best explained by the cultural norms of their country of origin. These cultural norms do not proxy for legal constraints, insurance safety nets, or economic development.
Series:
Working Paper No. 2012/210
Subject:
Asset prices Central bank policy rate Competition Economic sectors Financial markets Financial sector development Financial services Foreign corporations Prices
English
Publication Date:
August 1, 2012
ISBN/ISSN:
9781475505603/1018-5941
Stock No:
WPIEA2012210
Pages:
50
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