IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/chieco/v88y2024ics1043951x24001585.html

Local government debt and corporate asset-debt maturity mismatches: Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Wen, Xi
  • Li, Wanli
  • Shen, Zhixuan

Abstract

In the context of the rapid accumulation of public debt inducing tightened credit supply for firms in China, this paper empirically estimates the effects of local government debt on corporate financing and investment maturity decisions. We find that the increasing local government debt significantly intensifies corporate asset-debt maturity mismatches. Mechanism tests conducted from both the demand and supply side of credit resources indicate that local government debt will enhance corporate maturity mismatches by decreasing firms' availability to long-term credit and increasing the cost of debt financing. Heterogeneity analyses show that the positive relation between government debt and corporate asset-debt maturity mismatches is more pronounced in non-state-owned firms, firms with smaller sizes, higher growth rates, and higher R&D intensity. This study highlights the crucial role of public debt in shaping corporate financing maturity policy and provides important implications for government debt governance reform.

Suggested Citation

  • Wen, Xi & Li, Wanli & Shen, Zhixuan, 2024. "Local government debt and corporate asset-debt maturity mismatches: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:88:y:2024:i:c:s1043951x24001585
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2024.102269
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043951X24001585
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.chieco.2024.102269?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Arvind Krishnamurthy & Annette Vissing-Jorgensen, 2012. "The Aggregate Demand for Treasury Debt," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 120(2), pages 233-267.
    2. Chen, Zhuo & He, Zhiguo & Liu, Chun, 2020. "The financing of local government in China: Stimulus loan wanes and shadow banking waxes," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(1), pages 42-71.
    3. Murillo Campello & Erasmo Giambona & John R. Graham & Campbell R. Harvey, 2011. "Liquidity Management and Corporate Investment During a Financial Crisis," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 24(6), pages 1944-1979.
    4. Simeon Djankov & Oliver Hart & Caralee McLiesh & Andrei Shleifer, 2008. "Debt Enforcement around the World," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 116(6), pages 1105-1149, December.
    5. Krishnamurthy, Arvind & Vissing-Jorgensen, Annette, 2015. "The impact of Treasury supply on financial sector lending and stability," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(3), pages 571-600.
    6. Demirci, Irem & Huang, Jennifer & Sialm, Clemens, 2019. "Government debt and corporate leverage: International evidence," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(2), pages 337-356.
    7. Graham, John R. & Leary, Mark T. & Roberts, Michael R., 2015. "A century of capital structure: The leveraging of corporate America," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(3), pages 658-683.
    8. Lin William Cong & Haoyu Gao & Jacopo Ponticelli & Xiaoguang Yang, 2019. "Credit Allocation Under Economic Stimulus: Evidence from China," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 32(9), pages 3412-3460.
    9. Raymond Fisman & Inessa Love, 2007. "Financial Dependence and Growth Revisited," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 5(2-3), pages 470-479, 04-05.
    10. Matthias Kahl & Anil Shivdasani & Yihui Wang, 2015. "Short-Term Debt as Bridge Financing: Evidence from the Commercial Paper Market," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 70(1), pages 211-255, February.
    11. Allen, Franklin & Qian, Jun & Qian, Meijun, 2005. "Law, finance, and economic growth in China," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(1), pages 57-116, July.
    12. R. David Mclean & Mengxin Zhao, 2014. "The Business Cycle, Investor Sentiment, and Costly External Finance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 69(3), pages 1377-1409, June.
    13. La Porta, Rafael & Florencio Lopez-de-Silanes & Andrei Shleifer & Robert W. Vishny, 1997. "Legal Determinants of External Finance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 52(3), pages 1131-1150, July.
    14. DeYoung, Robert & Jang, Karen Y., 2016. "Do banks actively manage their liquidity?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 143-161.
    15. Viral V Acharya & Tim Eisert & Christian Eufinger & Christian Hirsch, 2018. "Real Effects of the Sovereign Debt Crisis in Europe: Evidence from Syndicated Loans," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 31(8), pages 2855-2896.
    16. Li, Xiang, 2022. "How does economic policy uncertainty affect corporate debt maturity?," IWH Discussion Papers 5/2022, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    17. Qian, Yingyi & Roland, Gerard & Xu, Chenggang, 1999. "Why is China different from Eastern Europe? Perspectives from organization theory," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(4-6), pages 1085-1094, April.
    18. Yi Huang & Marco Pagano & Ugo Panizza, 2020. "Local Crowding‐Out in China," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 75(6), pages 2855-2898, December.
    19. Murillo Campello & Erasmo Giambona & John R. Graham & Campbell R. Harvey, 2011. "Access to Liquidity and Corporate Investment in Europe during the Financial Crisis," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 16(2), pages 323-346.
    20. Chen, Shawn Xiaoguang, 2017. "The effect of a fiscal squeeze on tax enforcement: Evidence from a natural experiment in China," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 62-76.
    21. Li, Jingxin & Ye, Yong & Li, Jingxuan, 2024. "Performance feedback and corporate maturity mismatch: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PB).
    22. Li, Hongbin & Zhou, Li-An, 2005. "Political turnover and economic performance: the incentive role of personnel control in China," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(9-10), pages 1743-1762, September.
    23. Emi Nakamura & J?n Steinsson, 2014. "Fiscal Stimulus in a Monetary Union: Evidence from US Regions," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(3), pages 753-792, March.
    24. Li, Bo & Cheng, Yue & Tian, Guangning, 2024. "Bank competition and firm asset- debt maturity mismatch: Evidence from the SMEs in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    25. Morris, James R, 1976. "On Corporate Debt Maturity Strategies," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 31(1), pages 29-37, March.
    26. Fan, Joseph P. H. & Titman, Sheridan & Twite, Garry, 2012. "An International Comparison of Capital Structure and Debt Maturity Choices," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 47(1), pages 23-56, February.
    27. Custódio, Cláudia & Ferreira, Miguel A. & Laureano, Luís, 2013. "Why are US firms using more short-term debt?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(1), pages 182-212.
    28. Viral V. Acharya & Douglas Gale & Tanju Yorulmazer, 2011. "Rollover Risk and Market Freezes," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 66(4), pages 1177-1209, August.
    29. Barclay, Michael J & Smith, Clifford W, Jr, 1995. "The Maturity Structure of Corporate Debt," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 50(2), pages 609-631, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Zongnan & Zhou, Maoyuan & Wan, Chuang & Chen, Tingzhu, 2025. "The impact of digital finance development on corporate debt maturity structure," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    2. Bu, Jun & Chang, Yanfeng & Fei, Tianlun & Li, Xueying, 2025. "It is a marathon, not a sprint: The impact of supply chain finance on firms’ short-term debt for long-term investments," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    3. Luo, Jie & Li, Jie, 2025. "How does local government debt governance affect corporate credit mismatches? Evidence from implementing the New Budget Law," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    4. Pan, Lin & Huang, Kun & Wang, Zhili, 2025. "Local government debt and corporate stock liquidity: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 104(PA).
    5. Liu, Xiaojun & Yang, Fang & Xie, Chao, 2025. "Local government debt governance and urban economic resilience," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    6. Zhang, Xubo & Zhang, Xinyu & Tu, Yanbin, 2025. "The paradox of government-guided funds: A negative impact on corporate ESG performance?!," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    7. He, Zhimin & Chen, Weiye & Chen, Minghui & He, Shuping, 2025. "Local government debt and commercial bank liquidity creation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    8. Li, Wenxue & Liu, Fei, 2025. "Local government debt transparency, investor confidence, and corporate financial risk," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    9. Wang, Man & Wang, Xueting, 2025. "Geopolitical risk and corporate maturity mismatch," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    10. Song, Gaoya & Wang, Yu, 2025. "Heterogeneous shareholder participation and corporate maturity mismatch: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    11. Long, Houyin & Lai, Guansen & Jiang, Jiaoliang & Liu, Ruonan, 2025. "The impact of top-down amplification of economic growth targets on CSR performance-evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    12. Liu, Qiang & Mao, Yidan & Zhang, Yefeng & Xiong, Zhengling, 2025. "Targeted fiscal policy and corporate investment: Evidence from the special bonds in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen, Lirong & Gao, Feiyang & Guo, Tongtong & Huang, Xuanhao, 2023. "Mixed ownership reform and the short-term debt for long-term investment of non-state-owned enterprises: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    2. Haiyun Ma & Deshuai Hou, 2023. "Local Government Debt and Corporate Maturity Mismatch between Investment and Financing: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Wang, Ping & Zhao, Rui, 2025. "Macro leverage ratio of government departments and the dynamic adjustment of corporate capital structure," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    4. Chen, Zongnan & Zhou, Maoyuan & Wan, Chuang & Chen, Tingzhu, 2025. "The impact of digital finance development on corporate debt maturity structure," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    5. Li, Bo & Cheng, Yue & Tian, Guangning, 2024. "Bank competition and firm asset- debt maturity mismatch: Evidence from the SMEs in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    6. Zhu, Zhiliang & Song, Wuqi, 2026. "Credit information sharing and corporate debt maturity structure: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    7. Liang, Shuzhen & Ye, Yongwei & Zhang, Ruifeng, 2025. "Social credit system and the alleviation of investment–financing maturity mismatch in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 1415-1435.
    8. Si, Deng-Kui & Li, Hong-Xue & Wu, Shilei & Zhou, Fuyou, 2024. "Does local government debt management affect cross-border M&As? Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    9. Xu, Meng & Yang, Zhonghai & Lin, Yu-En & Li, Gaobo, 2024. "Maturity mismatched investment, digital financial inclusion, and digital orientation: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    10. Chen, Suyun & Li, Zongze & Xie, Feixue & Xu, Xiaofang, 2024. "The signaling effect of local government debt: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PA).
    11. Tang, Long & Wen, Yanbing & Jiang, Yan, 2025. "Can digital finance foster green innovation in short-term debt for long-term investment firms?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    12. Qiu, Muqing & Bai, Yunxia & Chen, Taoqin, 2024. "The impact of asset-liability maturity mismatch on stock returns: Evidence from China during 1998–2021," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    13. Zhang, Fan & Lai, Xiaobing & Guo, Chong, 2024. "ESG disclosure and investment-financing maturity mismatch: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).
    14. Bu, Jun & Chang, Yanfeng & Fei, Tianlun & Li, Xueying, 2025. "It is a marathon, not a sprint: The impact of supply chain finance on firms’ short-term debt for long-term investments," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    15. Xiong, Jiacai & Huang, Ling & Yang, Zelin & Wang, Xin, 2024. "The impact of local government debt on entrepreneurship: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment of local debt governance reform," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 501-519.
    16. Wang, He & Yao, Yang & Zhou, Yue, 2022. "Markets price politicians: Evidence from China’s municipal bond markets," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    17. Fan, Jianyong & Liu, Yu & Zhang, Qi & Zhao, Peng, 2022. "Does government debt impede firm innovation? Evidence from the rise of LGFVs in China," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    18. Jing Wu & Qiuge Yao & Haoxiang Tong, 2019. "Does monetary policy tightening reduce the maturity mismatch of investment and financing: Empirical evidence from China," Journal of Applied Finance & Banking, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 9(6), pages 1-3.
    19. Wang, Man & Wang, Xueting, 2025. "Geopolitical risk and corporate maturity mismatch," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    20. Li, Dongdong & Gui, Mingxia & Ma, Rui & Feng, Yiwen, 2024. "Public data accessibility and corporate maturity mismatch: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:88:y:2024:i:c:s1043951x24001585. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/chieco .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.