Small worlds and board interlocking in Brazil: a longitudinal study of corporate networks, 1997-2007

Social Network Analysis (SNA) is an emerging research field in finance, above all in Brazil. This work is pioneering in that it is supported by reference to different areas of knowledge: social network analysis and corporate governance, for dealing with a similarly emerging topic in finance; interlocking boards, the purpose being to check the validity of the small-world model in the Brazilian capital market, and the existence of associations between the positioning of the firm in the network of corporate relationships and its worth. To do so official data relating to more than 400 companies listed in Brazil between 1997 and 2007 were used. The main results obtained suggest that the configuration of the networks of relationships between board members and companies reflects the small-world model. Furthermore, there seems to be a significant relationship between the firm’s centrality and its worth, described according to an “inverted U” curve, which suggests the existence of optimum values of social prominence in the corporate network.Board Interlocking; Social Network Analysis in Finance; Company Boards

Attitudes toward Credit and Finances among College Students in Brazil and the United States

Although research on credit card debt in developed countries has identified predictors of debt among college students, it is unknown whether these same predictors apply in emerging markets, such as Brazil. To examine this issue, a total of 1257 college students, 814 from Brazil and 443 from the United States, participated in a study exploring the utility of a theory of planned behavior as a predictor of credit card debtand student loans among college students, as well as perceived financial well-being. Compared to the Brazilian participants, the American sample was more financially self-confident, reported better financial well-being, and was more likely to believe that credit cards are negative. Similar predictors of financial well-being emerged in the samples. Specifically, parenting practices related to money and better self-reported delay of gratification are related to more positive financial attitudes and lower levels of debt. Although the debt to income ratio among card holders was similar, Brazilian students held more credit cards than American students. Greater delay of gratification was related to lower levels of student loans in the United States, but there were no significant predictors of student loans in Brazil

Effects of the diversification strategies on the performance of the Brazilian industrial companies: a study about companies listed in the São Paulo stock exchange in the period 1997-2001

Diversos estudos, em diferentes países, têm buscado verificar a associação existente entre a diversificação de negócios e o desempenho corporativo. Essencialmente, três modelos têm sido testados para descrever essa associação: o modelo linear, o modelo curvilíneo ('U invertido') e o modelo intermediário. Esse trabalho tem por objetivo estudar esta possível relação a partir de evidências empíricas que dizem respeito às empresas industriais brasileiras. Usando dados de companhias de capital aberto no período 1997-2001, procedeu-se a uma análise de painel por meio dos métodos de Efeitos Fixos e Efeitos Aleatórios. Os dados não apresentaram aderência suficiente para aceitar a existência de um efeito positivo entre estratégias de diversificação e desempenho, seja linearmente seja exponencialmente. Assim, o modelo que apresentou melhor grau de ajuste aos dados foi o modelo curvilíneo por meio das formas funcionais quadrática e cúbica, o que sugere a existência de pontos em que os custos marginais da diversificação superam os benefícios marginais e vice-versa. Porém a relação mostrou-se indefinida, não sendo possível concluir se ocorre sob a forma de 'U' ou de 'U invertido'. Os principais resultados obtidos na pesquisa apóiam algumas evidências empíricas encontradas em outros países emergentes.Several studies, in different countries, have been investigating the relationship between diversification of businesses and corporate performance. Basically, three models have been tested to describe that relationship: the linear model, the curvilinear model ('inverted U'), and the intermediate model. This paper focuses on theme, using the Brazilian industrial companies as the empirical evidence. The study scrutinizes the performance of enterprises that were listed in the São Paulo Stock Exchange in the period 1997-2001, via a panel analysis through the methods of Fixed Effects and Random Effects. The data didn't show enough adherence to accept that a positive relationship exists between diversification strategies and performance, neither lineally nor exponentially. The model that showed a better adjustment degree was the curvilinear model (through the quadratic and cubic functional forms) that can be interpreted as an evidence about the existence of points in which the marginal costs of diversification overcomes the marginal benefits and vice-versa. However, the relationship was shown indefinite; it was unable to conclude if the real shape is similar to an 'U' of an 'inverted U'. The main results obtained in the research support some empirical evidences found in other emerging countries