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Rising Intangible Capital, Shrinking Debt Capacity, and the U.S. Corporate Savings Glut

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  • ANTONIO FALATO
  • DALIDA KADYRZHANOVA
  • JAE SIM
  • ROBERTO STERI

Abstract

This paper explores the connection between rising intangible capital and the secular upward trend in U.S. corporate cash holdings. We calibrate a dynamic model with two productive assets—tangible and intangible capital—in which only tangible capital can serve as collateral. We highlight the following points: (i) a shift toward intangible capital shrinks firms' debt capacity and leads them to hold more cash, (ii) the effect accounts for three‐quarters of the observed trend in average cash ratios, and (iii) it also accounts for the upward trend of cash ratios in the cross‐section of small and large firms and in the aggregate.

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  • Antonio Falato & Dalida Kadyrzhanova & Jae Sim & Roberto Steri, 2022. "Rising Intangible Capital, Shrinking Debt Capacity, and the U.S. Corporate Savings Glut," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 77(5), pages 2799-2852, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jfinan:v:77:y:2022:i:5:p:2799-2852
    DOI: 10.1111/jofi.13174
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