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Labor Protection Laws and Bank Loan Contracting

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  • Azizjon Alimov

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of labor regulations that restrict firms' flexibility to adjust labor resources on the cost of corporate bank loans. Using within-country variation in employment protection legislation across 25 countries, I find that increases in employment protection lead to higher loan spreads, tighter nonprice loan contract terms, and more diffuse loan ownership structure. The effects of labor regulations are greater in industries with a higher rate of labor turnover and among borrowers with a higher probability of default. These results suggest that rigidities imposed by labor regulations have a significant impact on firms' cost of capital.

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  • Azizjon Alimov, 2015. "Labor Protection Laws and Bank Loan Contracting," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 58(1), pages 37-74.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlawec:doi:10.1086/682908
    DOI: 10.1086/682908
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    3. Li, Mingming & Chiang, Yao-Min & Liu, Haiming, 2023. "Employment protection and leverage adjustment speed: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    4. Shang, Longfei & Saffar, Walid, 2023. "Employment Protection and Household Mortgage Debt," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    5. Ang, James B. & Fredriksson, Per G., 2018. "Culture, legal heritage and the regulation of labor," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 616-633.
    6. Karpuz, Ahmet & Kim, Kirak & Ozkan, Neslihan, 2020. "Employment protection laws and corporate cash holdings," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    7. Bai, Min & Ho, Ly & Lu, Yue & Qin, Yafeng, 2023. "Labor protection and dynamic leverage adjustments in the OECD countries," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 502-527.
    8. Heywood, John S. & O'Mahony, Mary & Siebert, W. Stanley & Rincon-Aznar, Ana, 2018. "The Impact of Employment Protection on the Industrial Wage Structure," IZA Discussion Papers 11788, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Fard, Amirhossein & Javadi, Siamak & Kim, Incheol, 2020. "Environmental regulation and the cost of bank loans: International evidence," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    10. Li, Tongxia & Ang, Tze Chuan ‘Chewie’ & Lu, Chun, 2023. "Employment protection and the provision of trade credit," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    11. Alimov, Azizjon, 2019. "Intellectual property rights reform and the cost of corporate debt," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 195-211.
    12. Guo, Jing & Tang, Qi & Jin, Guangzhu, 2021. "Labor protection and the efficiency of human capital investment," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 195-207.
    13. Karpuz, Ahmet & Luo, Di & Xiao, Rongbing & Zhao, Huainan, 2023. "The effect of labour protection laws on the relationship between leverage and wages," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).

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