May 03, 2024
Linda Blaser
Tilahun Emiru and alum co-author paper on economic drivers of mergers, acquisitions
A paper on business merger and acquisition trends that was co-written by Assistant Professor of Economics Tilahun Emiru and alum Sara Weisblatt ’23 has been accepted for publication in the scholarly journal Studies in Economics and Finance (SEF).
“Merger Waves and Economic Tides: Insights from a Long-Run Perspective” explores how economic and financial conditions drive merger waves. Weisblatt, a finance and English literature double major, collected the mergers and acquisitions data for her econometrics term paper in Emiru’s spring 2022 class. Emiru expanded on Weisblatt’s work over the next 18 months to create the final submitted paper.
The study, spanning nearly a century of data and employing cutting-edge time-series econometric techniques, offers a comprehensive analysis of the forces driving merger waves. From boom to bust cycles, the paper illuminates the underlying mechanisms dictating the ebb and flow of corporate consolidation.
Emiru’s commitment to fostering student involvement in research emerges as a cornerstone of this project. “Having students involved in my research is a core priority to me. It greatly benefits the students as well as me,” Emiru said, underscoring the symbiotic relationship between mentorship and scholarly inquiry.
The significance of their findings reverberates beyond the confines of academia, as policymakers and industry leaders alike stand to gain valuable insights into the strategic underpinnings of merger decisions.
The journal SEF is a premier outlet for high-quality empirical and theoretical research, covering both finance and the intersection between finance, financial markets, and economics.