Private-sector firms, regulators, and academic researchers alike face challenges regarding the reliability and availability of market-wide financial data. Even when reliable data is available, moreover, “stovepipes” within firms and within and among regulatory agencies can create data gaps that inhibit functionality. In addition, some have argued that disclosure obligations may incentivize firms to engage in “information arbitrage” by hiding information or otherwise altering their behavior to avoid reporting obligations. This panel will examine strategies for closing data gaps and obtaining high-quality, reliable, market-wide financial data.
