Market reaction to executive compensation disclosure : evidence from the Security and Exchange Commission's 1992 disclosure initiatives

Abstract

The SEC's disclosure initiatives passed in 1992 required increased levels of executive compensation disclosure accompanied by new formats for disclosure. I examine the market response to this new regulation at the firm level. I also test for external information spillovers. I find no evidence that the market systematically values the additional information provided by the new proxy format. I also find no evidence of new information spillovers being created by the new disclosure mandates; lending no support for proscriptive regulations.