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Debt overhang, global growth opportunities, and investment

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  • Barbiero, Francesca
  • Popov, Alexander
  • Wolski, Marcin

Abstract

Using a pan-European data set of 8.5 million firms, we find that firms with high debt financing invest relatively more, than otherwise similar firms, if they are operating in sectors facing good global growth opportunities. The positive impact of a marginal increase in debt on investment in good-global-growth-opportunities sectors disappears if firm debt is already excessive, if it is dominated by short maturities, and during systemic banking crises. Our results are consistent with theories of the disciplining role of debt, as well as with models highlighting the negative link between firm- and bank-related agency problems and corporate investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbiero, Francesca & Popov, Alexander & Wolski, Marcin, 2020. "Debt overhang, global growth opportunities, and investment," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:120:y:2020:i:c:s0378426620302120
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2020.105950
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    3. Machokoto, Michael & Bayai, Innocent & Kadzima, Marvelous, 2023. "The nonlinear impact of debt on employment: Does institutional quality matter?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    4. Stéphane Dees & Stefan Gebauer & Thomas Goncalves & Camille Thubin, 2022. "The Financing Structure of NonFinancial Corporations and MacroFinancial Implications in France," Working papers 880, Banque de France.
    5. Igan, Deniz & Mirzaei, Ali & Moore, Tomoe, 2023. "A shot in the arm: Economic support packages and firm performance during COVID-19," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    6. Maurin, Laurent & Wolski, Marcin, 2021. "Aggregate productivity slowdown in Europe: New evidence from corporate balance sheets," EIB Working Papers 2021/04, European Investment Bank (EIB).
    7. Alessandro Barbera & Áron Gereben & Marcin Wolski, 2022. "Estimating conditional treatment effects of EIB lending to SMEs in Europe," BIS Working Papers 1006, Bank for International Settlements.
    8. Deniz Igan & Ali Mirzaei & Tomoe Moore, 2022. "A shot in the arm: stimulus packages and firm performance during Covid-19," BIS Working Papers 1014, Bank for International Settlements.
    9. Meki, Muhammad, 2023. "Levelling the debt–equity playing field: Evidence from Belgium," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    10. Raschid Amamou & Áron Gereben & Marcin Wolski, 2023. "Assessing the impact of the EIB’s intermediated lending to SMEs during funding shocks," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(3), pages 975-1007, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Debt overhang; Global growth opportunities; Investment; Banking crises;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt

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