Explaining the NYSE Listing Choices of NASDAQ Firms

Traditionally, financial theory has offered little guidance to managers who must choose whether to list their stock on an exchange or allow it to continue trading over-the-counter. Recent developments in market microstructure theory allow a more careful analysis of the exchange listing decision. Market microstructure theory implies that firms list their stocks on exchanges to reduce transaction costs to their investors. A major component of the cost of trading common stocks is the bid-ask spread. Several differences exist between the trading arrangements, or microstructure, of the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ that may contribute to differences in bid-ask spreads for a given stock depending on where it is traded.