Time Distance and Mutual Fund Holding Horizon: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment Setting of High-Speed Railway Opening

Using a quasi-natural experiment setting of high-speed railway opening, we examine whether mutual fund holding horizon changes after the time distance between mutual funds and listed companies is shortened following the opening of high-speed railway. With the DID (difference-in-difference) method, we find that the holdings of mutual fund in remote listed companies increase following high-speed railway opening of remote cities in which these listed companies are located. We also find that this effect is mainly reflected in the high-speed railway transportation optimal interval (i.e. physical distance between 240 and 1800 kilometers), and this effect is stronger for companies with lower analyst coverage. We further find that the opening of high-speed railway facilitates the site visits of mutual funds to remote listed companies, which will eventually increase mutual fund holdings and extend mutual fund holding horizon.