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Determinants and consequences of soft budget constraints. An empirical analysis using enterprise-level data in transition countries

Author

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  • Céline Bignebat

    (UMR MOISA - Marchés, Organisations, Institutions et Stratégies d'Acteurs - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - Montpellier SupAgro - Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier)

  • Fabian Gouret

    (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, OEP - UPEM - Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée)

Abstract

This paper presents empirical work grounded in the soft budget-constraint literature. A loan is soft when a bank cannot commit the enterprise to hold to a fixed initial budget and/or the timing of repayment. Using data collected by the EBRD (BEEPS 2002) in 26 transition economies, we analyze the determinants of managers' expectations of having a soft loan. In particular, we find that managers' expectations are lower when the initial financing requires collateral, and higher for larger firms and when firms had recently experienced financial distress. We also provide evidence that managers' expectations influence their price responsiveness.

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  • Céline Bignebat & Fabian Gouret, 2008. "Determinants and consequences of soft budget constraints. An empirical analysis using enterprise-level data in transition countries," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-00308719, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:cesptp:halshs-00308719
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0351.2008.00324.x
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00308719
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    1. Céline Bignebat & Fabian Gouret, 2008. "Determinants and consequences of soft budget constraints. An empirical analysis using enterprise-level data in transition countries," Post-Print halshs-00308719, HAL.

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    Soft budget constraint; Eastern Europe;

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