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Production Flexibility, Product Markets, and Capital Structure Decisions

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  • Sebastian J. Reinartz
  • Thomas Schmid

Abstract

We examine how production flexibility affects financial leverage. A worldwide sample of energy utilities allows us to apply direct measures for production flexibility based on their power plants. We find that production flexibility increases financial leverage. For identification, we exploit privatizations and deregulations of electricity markets, geographical variations in natural resources, the technological evolution of gas-fired power plants, and differences in electricity prices and recapitalization cost across regions. Production flexibility affects financial leverage via the channels of reduced expected cost of financial distress and higher present value of tax shields. The relative importance of these channels depends on firms' profitability.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastian J. Reinartz & Thomas Schmid, 2016. "Production Flexibility, Product Markets, and Capital Structure Decisions," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 29(6), pages 1501-1548.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rfinst:v:29:y:2016:i:6:p:1501-1548.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/rfs/hhv126
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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Maria C. Menichini, 2017. "Miglo, Anton: Capital structure in the modern world," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 122(3), pages 303-306, November.
    2. Qizhi Tao & Zohaib Zahid & Azhar Mughal & Farrukh Shahzad, 2022. "Does operating leverage increase firm's profitability and bankruptcy risk? Evidence from China's entry into WTO," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(4), pages 4705-4721, October.
    3. Zhang, Jianhua & Zhao, Zhao & Jian, Wenqing, 2020. "Do cash flow imbalances facilitate leverage adjustments of Chinese listed firms? Evidence from a dynamic panel threshold model," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 201-214.
    4. Chen Lin & Thomas Schmid & Michael S. Weisbach, 2019. "Climate Change, Operating Flexibility and Corporate Investment Decisions," NBER Working Papers 26441, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Olga Kuzmina, 2023. "Employment Flexibility and Capital Structure: Evidence from a Natural Experiment," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(9), pages 4992-5017, September.
    6. Hickey, Conor & O'Brien, John & Caldecott, Ben & McInerney, Celine & Ó Gallachóir, Brian, 2021. "Can European electric utilities manage asset impairments arising from net zero carbon targets?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    7. Chen Lin & Thomas Schmid & Michael S. Weisbach, 2017. "Price Risk, Production Flexibility, and Liquidity Management: Evidence from Electricity Generating Firms," NBER Working Papers 23434, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Monika Rakos & Janos Szendrak & Laszlo Erdey & Peter Miklos Komives & Veronika Fenyves, 2022. "Analysis of the Economic Situation of Energy Companies in Central and Eastern Europe," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(4), pages 553-562, July.
    9. Ho, Tuan & Kim, Kirak & Li, Yang & Xu, Fangming, 2023. "Does real flexibility help firms navigate the COVID-19 pandemic?," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(4).
    10. Harris, Christopher & Roark, Scott, 2019. "Cash flow risk and capital structure decisions," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 393-397.
    11. Ge, Jianjun & Li, Donghui & Ni, Yingzhao & Yang, Shijie, 2022. "Inflexibility and corporate innovation: Cross-country evidence," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    12. Nuno Silva & Pedro Dias Moreira & Sónia Félix, 2021. "On the measurement of Portuguese firms’ fixed operating costs," Economic Bulletin and Financial Stability Report Articles and Banco de Portugal Economic Studies, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    13. Friedrich, Benjamin U. & Zator, Michał, 2023. "Flexibility costs of debt: Danish exporters during the cartoon crisis," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(2), pages 91-117.
    14. Ikonnikova, Svetlana A. & del Carpio Neyra, Victor & Berdysheva, Sofia, 2022. "Investment choices and production dynamics: The role of price expectations, financial deficit, and production constraints," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    15. Avijit Bansal & Balagopal Gopalakrishnan & Joshy Jacob & Pranjal Srivastava, 2022. "Impact of operational fragility on stock returns: Lessons from COVID‐19 crisis," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 22(2), pages 365-398, June.
    16. Peter Ritchken & Qi Wu, 2021. "Capacity Investment, Production Flexibility, and Capital Structure," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(12), pages 4593-4613, December.

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