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Discovering the Link Between Uncertainty and Investment - Microeconometric Evidence from Germany

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  • Hjalmar Boehm

    (Universitaet Hamburg)

  • Michael Funke

    (Universitaet Hamburg)

  • Nikolaus A. Siegfried

    (Universitaet Hamburg)

Abstract

We analyse empirically the effect of uncertainty on the investment decisions of a sample of quoted German firms. The uncertainty measures are constructed by employing two procedures: the conventional formula of standard deviation, and the GARCH methodology. We find that uncertainty exerts a significantly negative effect on investment, i.e. uncertainty slows down capital accumulation. We also find that this negative relationship is closely related to the degree of market power of the firm.

Suggested Citation

  • Hjalmar Boehm & Michael Funke & Nikolaus A. Siegfried, 2000. "Discovering the Link Between Uncertainty and Investment - Microeconometric Evidence from Germany," Econometric Society World Congress 2000 Contributed Papers 0112, Econometric Society.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecm:wc2000:0112
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    Cited by:

    1. Größl Ingrid & Stahlecker Peter & Wohlers Eckhardt, 2001. "An Empirical Investigation of German Firms’ Financial Structure and Ensuing Risks / Finanzierungsstruktur und Risiken im Unternehmenssektor der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Eine empirische Bestandsaufn," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 221(5-6), pages 491-529, October.
    2. Grossl, Ingrid & Stahlecker, Peter & Wohlers, Eckhardt, 1999. "Finanzierungsstruktur und Risiken im Unternehmenssektor der Bundesrepublik Deutschland - Eine empirische Bestandsaufnahme," Discussion Paper Series 26235, Hamburg Institute of International Economics.
    3. Konstantinos Dimitrios Drakos & Eleftherios Goulas, 2010. "Investment in Greek manufacturing under irreversibility and uncertainty: the message in used capital expenditures," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(14), pages 1797-1809.
    4. Wohlers, Eckhardt & Größl, Ingrid & Stahlecker, Peter, 1999. "Finanzierungsstruktur und Risiken im Unternehmenssektor der Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Eine empirische Bestandsaufnahme," HWWA Discussion Papers 83, Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWA).
    5. Aytekin GÜVEN & Arzu AKKOYUNLU-WIGLEY, 2018. "The Effects of Market Structure on Uncertainty-Investment Relationship: Evidence from Turkish Manufacturing Industry," Sosyoekonomi Journal, Sosyoekonomi Society, issue 26(37).
    6. Ulf von Kalckreuth, 2003. "Exploring the role of uncertainty for corporate investment decisions in Germany," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 139(II), pages 173-206, June.
    7. Silke Hüttel & Oliver Mußhoff & Martin Odening & Nataliya Zinych, 2008. "Estimating Investment Equations in Imperfect Capital Markets," SFB 649 Discussion Papers SFB649DP2008-016, Sonderforschungsbereich 649, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.

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