Graduation Year

2025

Date of Submission

12-2024

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Economics

Second Department

Economics-Accounting

Reader 1

Eric Hughson

Rights Information

2025 Natalie W Phillips

Abstract

This paper examines the broader implications of such workforce reductions, historically prevalent in corporate environments since the advent of "new capitalism" in the late 20th century. Characterized by intense global competition, deregulation, and technological advancements, this era saw a surge in corporate downsizing as a means to enhance efficiency and competitiveness. Despite the strategic intentions, layoffs often signal underlying organizational challenges, prompting critical inquiry into their short- and long-term impacts on firm performance and investor sentiment. Central to this study is the exploration of whether a firm's Altman Z-Score, a metric predicting bankruptcy risk, influences stock price reactions following layoff announcements. Contrary to expectations, findings suggest that while layoffs generally lead to negative market reactions, the Altman Z-Score itself does not significantly predict these outcomes. Instead, the manner in which management communicates and justifies layoffs appears more influential in shaping investor perceptions and market responses. Empirical analysis confirms a consistent negative abnormal return surrounding layoff announcements, aligning with previous research indicating market anticipation of future performance challenges post-layoffs. Regression models incorporating Altman Z-Scores reveal nonsignificant results, underscoring the limited predictive power of financial health metrics in forecasting market reactions to layoffs. Further investigation into firms with multiple layoff announcements highlights complexities in isolating the impact of individual events on stock prices, suggesting cumulative effects may dilute market responses.

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