Devinder K. Gandhi

Bio: Devinder K. Gandhi is an academic researcher from University of Ottawa. The author has contributed to research in topics: Market microstructure & Merton's portfolio problem. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 9 publications receiving 190 citations.

The perception of dividends by Canadian managers: new survey evidence

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this research is to analyze survey results on the perception of dividends by managers of dividend‐paying firms listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).Design/methodology/approach – Managers from a sample of 291 dividend‐paying TSX‐listed Canadian firms were surveyed about their views on dividends.Findings – The most important factors influencing dividend policy are the level of current and expected future earnings, the stability of earnings, and the pattern of past dividends. Despite dramatic differences in the level of ownership concentration between Canadian and US firms, their corresponding managers' views on the determinants of dividends are similar. Canadian managers believe that dividend policy affects firm value but express little agreement with the theory of a residual dividend policy. They express strong support for the signaling and lifecycle explanations for paying dividends, but not for the bird‐in‐the‐hand, tax‐preference and dividend clientele, agency cost, or cat...

Testing for nonlinearity & modeling volatility in emerging capital markets: the case of tunisia

Abstract: Capital market efficiency of emerging markets has been investigated widely in recent years. But to-date the empirical results remain inconclusive because most empirical studies use empirical tests, which are designed to detect linear structure in financial time series. However, recent developments in econometrics of financial markets show evidence of nonlinear relationships in asset returns in developed markets. Given the features of emerging capital markets, nonlinearity is most likely to be even more present in these developing markets compared to developed ones. In the present paper we reject the weak-form efficient market hypothesis of the Tunisian Stock Market (TSE). Using the BDS test, we find evidence of nonlinearity in variance, and develop a FIEGARCH (1, 1) model accordingly.

On the validity of conventional statistical tests given evidence of non-synchronous trading and non-linear dynamics in returns generating process

Abstract: Based on the recent developments in market microstructure and applications of nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory to financial time series, the subsequent article questions the validity of traditional methods used to test the efficient market hypothesis. In particular, it emphasizes the invalidity of unit roots tests since they are not predictability tests.

Firm Size and the Informational Content of Financial Statements

Abstract: firm's common stock and the stock's mean return. He found that firms with small market values had large and positive residual returns over a period of at least 40 years. Reinganum [23] found that high earning-price (E/P) stocks had higher re? turns than low E/P-ratio stocks and that, after controlling for size, the E/P effect largely disappeared. Although they rejected the hypothesis that the anomalies are due to inefficiency in the capital market, the two authors are not able to identify the economic factors that might explain the effect of firm size on the functioning ofthe capital market. Banz [3], p. 161 recognizes that: 'There is no theoretical foundation for such an effect. We do not even know whether the factor is size itself or whether size is just a proxy for one or more true but unknown factors correlated with size." Nevertheless, he puts forward the idea that one possible explanation in? volving size comes from the model of Klein and Bawa [20] concerning the cost of information. They argue that investors require premiums as an inducement to bear the estimation risk associated with stocks of firms about which less informa? tion is available. According to this hypothesis, the amount of information gener? ated is related to the size of the firm. In this study, we work within the framework of the previously mentioned hypothesis in an attempt to identify and analyze the economic factors that might explain the anomalies related to firm size. First, we attempt to analyze, from a theoretical point of view, the relation between firm size and the amount of infor? mation available to investors. (By "amount of information" we mean all infor? mation on a firm at any given time that is relevant to determining security prices.) We conclude that size is positively related to amount of information: the larger

Financial incentives for cost control under moral hazard

Abstract: A distinguishing feature of contracted production is that the contractual terms must be agreed upon before the product exists. If the specified product is the result of an innovative and complex process, uncertainties as to its production cost estimates can be enormous. This renders the traditional cost-plus-fixed-fee and fixed-price contractual arrangements increasingly untenable. An alternative contractual arrangement that is currently gaining greater acceptance is the fixed-price-incentive contract, which may be as simple as a linear cost-sharing formula or as complex as a state-contingent reward penalty structure. The problem from the viewpoint of the contractee (principal) is to identify the optimal incentive structure in order to minimize his expected cost; the incentive affects the contractor (agent) through his risk aversion and his propensity for “moral hazard”, due to the co-insurance effect of cost-sharing incentives. Taking as premise the contractee's risk-neutrality, the problem is formulated as a constrained optimization problem, with the constraint arising from the returns to each of the parties to the contract. It is thereby demonstrated that the currently popular linear incentive mechanism is ineffective from the viewpoint of the contractee before the introduction of the problem of moral hazard. We then show that, the problem can be segregated into independent components of the contractor's risk aversion and his propensity for moral hazard. Having established this, we proceed to examine the incentive form as related to the “monitoring mechanism” instituted by the contractor during the performance of the contract. Acceptance of the conclusions necessitates that the contracting parties can interpret their objective as the maximization of the ratio of their expected profits to target profits, which is demonstrated as being equivalent to the minimization of the certainty equivalent of costs.

Economics of Information

Abstract: The author systematically examines one of the important issues of information — establishing the market price. He introduces the concept of «search» — where a buyer wanting to get a better price, is forced to question sellers. The article deals with various aspects of finding the necessary information.

Dynamics and determinants of dividend policy in Pakistan (evidence from Karachi stock exchange non-financial listed firms)

Abstract: This study examines the dynamics and determinants of dividend payout policy of 320 non-financial firms listed in Karachi Stock Exchange during the period of 2001 to 2006. It is also one of the very first examples which try to identify the potential dynamics and determinants of dividend payout in Pakistan by using the well established dividend models in context of emerging market. For dynamic equation we used the extended model of Lintner, Fama and Babiak and ‘Proposed’ model in dynamic setting. The results consistently support that Pakistani listed non-financial firms rely on both the change in dividends and change in net earnings which clearly demonstrate that the firms rely on both current earning per share and past dividend per share to set their dividend payments. However the study clearly shows that dividend tends to be more sensitive to current earnings than prior dividends. The listed non financial firms having the high speed of adjustment and low target payout ratio show the instability to smoothing their dividend payments. To find out the determinants of dividend payout policy dynamic panel regression has been performed. Firstly, profitable firms with more stable net earnings can afford larger free cash flows and therefore pay larger dividends. Furthermore the ownership concentration and market liquidity have the positive impact on dividend payout policy. Besides, the slack and leverage have the negative impact on dividend payout policy. The market capitalization and size of the firms have the negative impact on dividend payout policy which clearly shows that the firms prefer to invest in their assets rather than pay dividends to its shareholders.

Empirical Evidence on Corporate Governance and Corporate Performance in Tunisia

Abstract: Recent high-profile corporate failures in the US and elsewhere in the world, many of which were caused by, or at least exacerbated by, weak governance practices, have convinced an increasing number of once sceptical investors that governance is a separate risk class that certainly requires attention and, in many cases, expert analysis. In this paper we examine corporate governance in Tunisia, North Africa, by analysing the board, the ownership structures and the financial market. By using a panel data set of 24 firms listed on the Tunisian Stock Exchange for the period 2000 to 2005, we provide evidence that governance in Tunisian firms is characterised by strong blockholders (often including families). Moreover, firms can choose between a dual board and a monist board. Our estimates show that Tunisian governance is weak. Finally we provide evidence for a strong relationship between governance and corporate performance.

Ranking market efficiency for stock markets: A nonlinear perspective

Abstract: The present paper demonstrates, via a rolling sample approach, that the stylized fact of nonlinear dependence in stock returns is quite localized in time, suggesting that market efficiency evolves over time. Given that the rolling sample framework is able to detect periods of efficiency/inefficiency, the relative efficiency of stock markets can easily be assessed by comparing the total time windows these markets exhibit significant nonlinear serial dependence. It was found that the US market is the most efficient while Argentine is at the end of the ranking.