Francesca Toscano

Francesca Toscano is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Mike Ilitch School of Business, Wayne State University, where she is actively engaged in research and teaching. She holds a PhD in Financial Economics from Boston College and has previously taught at Boston College before joining Wayne State University.

Education:

• PhD in Financial Economics, Boston College, 2017
• MA in Economics, Boston College, 2014
• Post-Graduate Master in Economics and Finance, University of Naples Federico II, 2011
• MS in Economics and Finance (Summa cum Laude), University of Salerno, 2010
• BA in Economics and Finance (Summa cum Laude), University of Salerno, 2008

Her research focuses on Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance, Monetary Economics, and Financial Economics. She investigates how firm culture, executive gender, board diversity, and policy uncertainty influence corporate financing decisions, cash holdings, and credit ratings. Her work often integrates empirical methods to analyze real-world financial behavior.

Her recent publications—appearing in journals like Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of Financial Stability, and Journal of Corporate Finance—demonstrate a consistent research trajectory on corporate financing structures, trade credit dynamics, CSR implications, and regulatory impact on credit rating agencies. The articles reflect a strong emphasis on governance, information asymmetry, and macro-financial linkages.

She teaches graduate courses including Corporate Financial Management, Quantitative Methods in Finance, and Empirical Methods in Finance, aligning closely with her research expertise.

No scientific awards are currently listed.

She advises graduate students and contributes to academic discourse through conference presentations at venues such as the Southern Finance Association, Financial Management Association, and Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Her work often involves collaboration with scholars like S. Datta, T. Doan, R. D'Mello, and T.J. Chemmanur.

She is affiliated with the Department of Finance at the Mike Ilitch School of Business and participates in research initiatives related to corporate financial policy and market regulation.