Cultural diversity on Wall Street: Evidence from consensus earnings forecasts

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Merkley, Kenneth; Michaely, Roni; Pacelli, Joseph
• 署名单位: Indiana University System; Indiana University Bloomington; IU Kelley School of Business; University of Geneva
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING & ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0165-4101
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2020.101330
• 发表日期: 2020
• 关键词: information-content; ANALYSTS FORECASTS; ethnic diversity; IMPLIED COST; leadership; coverage; matter

摘要

We examine how cultural differences among agents influence the aggregate outcome of a common forecasting task. Using both exogenous shocks to sell-side analyst diversity and panel regression methods, we find that increases in analyst cultural diversity positively affect the quality of the consensus earnings forecast. We further provide evidence on the potential mechanisms underlying this result by showing that cultural diversity is associated with improvements in individual analyst forecasts, greater analyst conference call participation and interaction, and greater diversity in analyst education backgrounds and professional interests. Overall, our results indicate that greater cultural differences among agents producing an aggregate forecast are associated with a higher quality consensus forecast. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.