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Talent in Distressed Firms: Investigating the Labor Costs of Financial Distress

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  • RAMIN P. BAGHAI
  • RUI C. SILVA
  • VIKTOR THELL
  • VIKRANT VIG

Abstract

The importance of skilled labor and the inalienability of human capital expose firms to the risk of losing talent at critical times. Using Swedish microdata, we document that firms lose workers with the highest cognitive and noncognitive skills as they approach bankruptcy. In a quasi‐experiment, we confirm that financial distress drives these results: following a negative export shock caused by exogenous currency movements, talent abandons the firm, but only if the exporter is highly leveraged. Consistent with talent dependence being associated with higher labor costs of financial distress, firms that rely more on talent have more conservative capital structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Ramin P. Baghai & Rui C. Silva & Viktor Thell & Vikrant Vig, 2021. "Talent in Distressed Firms: Investigating the Labor Costs of Financial Distress," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 76(6), pages 2907-2961, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jfinan:v:76:y:2021:i:6:p:2907-2961
    DOI: 10.1111/jofi.13077
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