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The Misallocation of Finance

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  • TONI M. WHITED
  • JAKE ZHAO

Abstract

We estimate real losses arising from the cross‐sectional misallocation of financial liabilities. Extending a production‐based framework of misallocation measurement to the liabilities side of the balance sheet and using manufacturing firm data from the United States and China, we find significant misallocation of debt and equity in China but not the United States. Reallocating liabilities of firms in China to mimic U.S. efficiency would produce gains of 51% to 69% in real value‐added, with only 17% to 21% stemming from inefficient debt‐equity combinations. For Chinese firms that are large or in developed cities, we estimate lower distortionary financing costs.

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  • Toni M. Whited & Jake Zhao, 2021. "The Misallocation of Finance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 76(5), pages 2359-2407, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jfinan:v:76:y:2021:i:5:p:2359-2407
    DOI: 10.1111/jofi.13031
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    2. Davide Luparello, 2023. "Do Productivity Shocks Cause Inputs Misallocation?," Papers 2306.08760, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2024.
    3. Deng, Jiapin & Liu, Qiao, 2024. "Good finance, bad finance, and resource misallocation: Evidence from China," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
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    8. van der Geest, Jesse, 2024. "Economic effects of tax avoidance and compliance," Other publications TiSEM aaca33bf-975d-4e21-9b5f-5, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    9. Andrea L. Eisfeldt & Yu Shi, 2018. "Capital Reallocation," NBER Working Papers 25085, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Li, Chenglin & Dong, Xuehan & Qin, Yi, 2024. "The misallocation of finance in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    11. Shuangjie Li & Huifang E & Liming Wang & Huidan Xue, 2023. "Factor Misallocation and Optimization in China’s Manufacturing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-21, February.
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    15. David, Joel M. & Schmid, Lukas & Zeke, David, 2022. "Risk-adjusted capital allocation and misallocation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(3), pages 684-705.
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