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Are U.S. firms using more short-term debt?

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  • Byun, Seong K.
  • Lin, Zhilu
  • Wei, Siqi

Abstract

We show that, despite the sharp but temporary decline around the financial crisis of 2007–08, corporate debt maturity has risen significantly in the last two decades, erasing much of the secular decline from the 1980–90s documented in the literature. The reversal in debt maturity trend is driven by the rise in the use of intermediate-term debt among medium and large-sized firms. The low interest rates observed in the last two decades and the decline in the demand for long-term corporate bonds partly explains the rise in intermediate-term debt.

Suggested Citation

  • Byun, Seong K. & Lin, Zhilu & Wei, Siqi, 2021. "Are U.S. firms using more short-term debt?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:69:y:2021:i:c:s0929119921001334
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2021.102012
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate debt maturity; Debt financing; Short-term debt; Refinancing risk; Long-term debt; Capital structure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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