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Financial Constraints and Investment: the Swiss Case

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  • François-Serge Lhabitant
  • Olivier Tinguely

Abstract

We study the empirical link that exists between investment-cash flow sensitivities and financial constraints in the Swiss financial market. We follow the standard approach introduced by FAZARRI, HUBBARD and PETERSON (1988), but improve it by using a dynamic classification of firms, a new estimation procedure, while paying particular attention to information asymmetry indicators. We observe that investment-cash flow sensitivities are homogeneous among firms during boom periods, as in KAPLAN and ZINGALES (1995), but heterogeneous during recession periods. The link between investment-cash flow sensitivities and the intensity of financing constraints is monotonically increasing, as in FAZARRI, HUBBARD and PETERSON (1988).

Suggested Citation

  • François-Serge Lhabitant & Olivier Tinguely, 2002. "Financial Constraints and Investment: the Swiss Case," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 138(II), pages 137-163, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ses:arsjes:2002-ii-3
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    financial constraints; investment; Tobin Q;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies

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