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How do firms learn? Evidence from corporate cash holdings during the COVID‐19 pandemic

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  • Bishal BC
  • Thuy Simpson

Abstract

We examine the impact of COVID‐19 on US corporate cash holdings. Our findings suggest that greater pandemic exposure is associated with higher corporate cash holdings and that firms learn from prior experiences as they manage their cash policies. More specifically, the level of cash holdings in firms that experienced severe financial constraints during the 2008 credit crisis and firms with prior severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and H1N1 exposure is significantly lower than that of firms with no prior epidemic or financial constraints experience. Overall, our findings support the learning behaviour of cash and contribute to corporate cash holdings literature by providing insights on the extent to which firms learn from prior experiences to manage their liquidity.

Suggested Citation

  • Bishal BC & Thuy Simpson, 2023. "How do firms learn? Evidence from corporate cash holdings during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(1), pages 77-108, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:63:y:2023:i:1:p:77-108
    DOI: 10.1111/acfi.13031
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    1. Chung, Hae Jin & Jhang, Hogyu & Ryu, Doojin, 2023. "Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on corporate cash holdings: Evidence from Korea," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).

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