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Excess Leverage and Productivity Growth in Emerging Economies: Is There A Threshold Effect?

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  • Coricelli, Fabrizio
  • ,
  • Pal, Sarmistha
  • Roland, Isabelle

Abstract

This paper studies the relationship between leverage and growth, focusing on a large sample of firms in emerging economies of central and eastern Europe (CEE). Contrary to the general wisdom, we find that deviation from optimal leverage, especially excess leverage, is common among firms in many CEE countries. Using firm-level panel data, the paper provides support to the hypothesis that leverage positively affects productivity growth but only below an endogenously determined threshold level.

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  • Coricelli, Fabrizio & , & Pal, Sarmistha & Roland, Isabelle, 2009. "Excess Leverage and Productivity Growth in Emerging Economies: Is There A Threshold Effect?," CEPR Discussion Papers 7617, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:7617
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    Cited by:

    1. Antoine Godin & Stephen Kinsella, 2012. "Leverage, liquidity and crisis: A simulation study," ASSRU Discussion Papers 1205, ASSRU - Algorithmic Social Science Research Unit.
    2. Paulo Matos & Pedro Neves, 2020. "The Determinants of Total Factor Productivity in the Portuguese Quaternary Sector," GEE Papers 0149, Gabinete de Estratégia e Estudos, Ministério da Economia, revised Apr 2020.
    3. Kalemli-Ozcan, Sebnem & Sorensen, Bent & Yesiltas, Sevcan, 2012. "Leverage across firms, banks, and countries," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 284-298.
    4. Ms. Maria Gonzalez, 2012. "Nonfinancial Firms in Latin America: A Source of Vulnerability?," IMF Working Papers 2012/279, International Monetary Fund.
    5. Ms. Manuela Goretti & Mr. Marcos R Souto, 2013. "Macro-Financial Implications of Corporate (De)Leveraging in the Euro Area Periphery," IMF Working Papers 2013/154, International Monetary Fund.
    6. Piotr Boguszewski & Maria Lissowska, 2012. "Low Reliance on Credit Among Polish Firms: A Blessing in Disguise at a Time of Financial Crisis?," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 7-8, pages 1-25.
    7. International Monetary Fund, 2016. "Ireland: Selected Issues," IMF Staff Country Reports 2016/257, International Monetary Fund.
    8. Leandro Medina, 2012. "Spring Forward or Fall Back? The Post-Crisis Recovery of Firms," IMF Working Papers 2012/292, International Monetary Fund.
    9. Brown, Martin & Lane, Philip R., 2011. "Debt overhang in emerging Europe ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5784, The World Bank.
    10. Mari Avarmaa & Aaro Hazak & Kadri Männasoo, 2013. "Does leverage affect labour productivity? A comparative study of local and multinational companies of the Baltic countries," Journal of Business Economics and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(2), pages 252-275, April.
    11. Lawless, Martina & O’Connell, Brian & O’Toole, Conor, 2015. "SME recovery following a financial crisis: Does debt overhang matter?," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 45-59.
    12. Falciola, Justine & Jansen, Marion & Rollo, Valentina, 2020. "Defining firm competitiveness: A multidimensional framework," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Excess leverage; Tfp growth; Threshold model;
    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
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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