Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
To investigate the effect of taxation on stock price and trading volume around the ex-dividend day, we use the Italian stock market, where dividends on two classes of stock are taxed differently. We find that the weighted average of investors' tax rates is reflected in the ex-day prices and the variance of the relative tax rate across investors is reflected in the volume of trades. We also show that higher transaction costs result in higher ex-dividend day excess returns and lower abnormal volume. This finding is consistent with "profit elimination" activity by institutions and corporations. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.