What Affects Post-Merger Innovation Outcomes? An Empirical Study of R&D Intensity in High Technology Transactions Among U.S. Firms
by Neha Karna Abstract High levels of global M&A activity have characterized the past decade, making the policy debate over the impact of mergers on innovation even more pertinent. Innovation is a significant driver of economic growth and therefore a negative effect of mergers on innovation outcomes may have detrimental consequences. Nevertheless, the existing literature […]
Private Equity IPOs: Long-term Performance and Drivers of Success
by Ignacio Hidalgo Perea Abstract In this paper, I explore the impact Private Equity ownership has on portfolio companies post-exit. This thesis aims to add to the discussion of whether the proliferation of Private Equity in the United States is a positive development for the country. Using a proprietary dataset that compiles thousands of IPOs […]
The Effect of Sustainability Reporting on ESG Ratings
by Arthur Luetkemeyer Abstract Over the past decade the concept of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing has emerged to aid investors to maximize return on investments while simultaneously supporting environmentally and socially friendly methods of production and operation. In this paper I investigate the effect of the quality of sustainability reporting on ESG ratings. […]
Economic Effects of the War in Donbas: Nightlights and the Ukrainian fight for freedom
Paper available to internal Duke affiliates only upon request. Professor Charles Becker, Faculty Advisor Professor Grace Kim, Faculty Advisor JEL Codes: F51; H56; O52; N44 View Data
Generic Entry and The Effect on Prices in the Prescription Drug Market
by Sahana Giridharan Abstract Drug firms have utilized a variety of strategies that contribute to rising drug prices in the U.S. for the last few years. Strategic entry timing and number of indications a drug is approved might be two factors that contribute to this rise in prices. While there have been some studies uncovering […]
Economic Situations and Social Distance: Taxation and Donation
by Alexander Brandt Abstract: This experimental study evaluated the effects of two common economic situations – taxation and donation – on the social distance between participants in the situations, an original effect of interest that is the opposite of prior research. This study employed a novel survey framework, in which subjects gave money to others […]
Forecasting the Effects of Battery Recycling on the Global Cobalt Market
by Elena Cavallero Abstract This paper addresses existing concerns around a potential cobalt supply shortage driven by lithium-ion battery demand. Using econometric simultaneous equations, historical global cobalt supply and demand are estimated using data from 1981 to 2018. Based on the results of a Three-Stage Least Square estimation model of global supply and demand, this […]
Bang for Your (Green) Buck: The Effects of ESG Risk on US M&A Performance
by Richard Chen Abstract Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) is a fundamental corporate activity that has not received much attention from an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) perspective. In this paper, I analyze how buyer and target ESG risks affect US M&A performance in both the short and long run as measured by deal valuations and […]
The Impact of Conflict on Economic Activity: Night Lights and the Bosnian Civil War
by Stephanie Dodd Abstract The tendency of violent conflict to suppress economic activity is well documented in the civil war economic literature. However, differential consequences resulting from distinct characteristics of conflicts have not been rigorously studied. Utilizing new conflict data on the 1992-1995 Bosnian civil war from Becker, Devine, Dogo, and Margolin (2018) and DSMP-OLS […]
Myocardial Infarction, Health Behavior, and the Grossman Model
by Emma Mehlhop Abstract This paper contributes an empirical test of Michael Grossman’s model of the demand for health and a novel application of the model to myocardial infarction (MI) incidence. Using data from the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study (HRS), I test Grossman’s assumptions regarding the effects of hourly wage, sex, educational […]
