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Capital structure, firm liquidity and growth

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  • Ronald W. Anderson

    (Université Catholique de Louvain, IRES
    London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Accounting and Finance)

Abstract

This paper is an exploration of the relationships among the firm's financial structure, its choice of liquid asset holdings, and growth. We present a theoretical model of the firm where external finance is costly and where retaining earnings as liquid assets serves a precautionary motive. One of the predictions of this model is that a long-term reliance on high levels of debt finance tends to be associated with high levels of liquid asset holding. We test this empirically by estimating the determinants of liquid asset holdings using panel data sets of Belgian and UK firms. We find evidence of a positive relation between leverage and liquid asset holding. This result leads us to identify a possible linkage from high debt to high liquidity to slow growth. In light of this we discuss the possible implications of the development of stock markets, private equity, and venture capital markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronald W. Anderson, 2002. "Capital structure, firm liquidity and growth," Working Paper Research 27, National Bank of Belgium.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbb:reswpp:200205-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Havran, Dániel, 2011. "A vállalati likviditáskezelés szerepe eszközfedezettel rendelkező hitelszerződésekben. Az alkun alapuló megközelítés eredményei [The role of corporate liquidity management under secured debt financ," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(7), pages 633-652.
    3. BartEomiej Pilch, 2021. "Dependencies between financial ratios among companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange," Zeszyty Naukowe Małopolskiej Wyższej Szkoły Ekonomicznej w Tarnowie / The Malopolska School of Economics in Tarnow Research Papers Collection, Malopolska School of Economics in Tarnow, vol. 50(2), pages 37-51, June.
    4. Patrick Bisciari & Alain Durré & Alain Nyssens, 2003. "Stock market valuation in the United States," Working Paper Document 41, National Bank of Belgium.
    5. Ksenija Denčić-Mihajlov & Dejan Malinić & Konrad Grabiński, 2015. "Capital structure and liquidity during the financial crisis in Serbia: implications for the sustainability of the economy," Post-Communist Economies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(1), pages 91-105, March.
    6. Ingrid-Mihaela Dragota & Aura-Cristina Stefan-Dobrin, 2016. "An Empirical Investigation of the Firm- and Country- Specific Debt Determinants in Four Nordic Countries," The Review of Finance and Banking, Academia de Studii Economice din Bucuresti, Romania / Facultatea de Finante, Asigurari, Banci si Burse de Valori / Catedra de Finante, vol. 8(2), pages 061-075, December.
    7. Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan & Naheed Rabbani, 2021. "Explaining the Growth Potential of a Market Leader and Challenger: Evidence from Japan’s Telecommunications Services Industry," Business Perspectives and Research, , vol. 9(3), pages 370-384, September.
    8. Maziar Ghasemi & Nazrul Hisyam Ab Razak, 2016. "The Impact of Liquidity on the Capital Structure: Evidence from Malaysia," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 8(10), pages 130-139, October.
    9. Geert Langenus, 2006. "Fiscal sustainability indicators and policy design in the face of ageing," Working Paper Research 102, National Bank of Belgium.

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