What Is CEO Overconfidence? Evidence from Executive Assessments
43 Pages Posted: 27 Aug 2020 Last revised: 24 Jun 2021
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What Is CEO Overconfidence? Evidence from Executive Assessments
What is CEO Overconfidence? Evidence from Executive Assessments
Date Written: August 25, 2020
Abstract
We use detailed assessments of CEO personalities to explore the nature of CEO overconfidence
as it is commonly measured. Longholder, the option-based measure of CEO overconfidence introduced by Malmendier and Tate (2005a) and widely used in the behavioral corporate finance and economics literatures, is significantly related to several specific characteristics that are associated with overconfident individuals as well as individuals of lower ability. Similar relations hold for overconfidence measures based on CEOs’ earnings guidance. Investment-cash flow sensitivities are larger for both Longholder and less able CEOs. After controlling for ability and other characteristics, Longholder CEOs’ investments remain significantly more sensitive to cash flows. These results suggest that overconfidence, as measured by Longholder, is correlated with lower ability but still reflects empirically distinct aspects of overconfidence.
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