Assignment Task
This assignment consists of a small empirical research project, where you will apply the tools learned in Quantitative Financial Analysis to answer three related research questions.
Your report must answer ALL of the following research questions:
To what extent can companies’ financial characteristics determine pension asset allocations? Dependent variable is equity and the five financial characteristics are (lev1) total liabilities divided by total assets, (mb)market to book ratio, (cf) operating cash flow scaled by total equities, (roe) return on equities, (fund) funding ratio. You are expected to justify your choice of financial ratios.
Can regression and panel data models based on accounting and finance data be improved by including corporate governance information? Corporate governance variables are (women) percentage women on board, (indep) percentage independent directors on board, and (pct_exe) percentage female executives in the company.
Given your analyses, what evidence can you provide as to the main cause(s) for companies to change their pension asset allocations?
You are required to answer all the research questions using empirical analysis. The dataset to be used in the analysis is provided. The companies in the dataset are the focus of your analyses. Include the stata command.
