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A theory of debt maturity and innovation

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  • Mitkov, Yuliyan

Abstract

The financing of innovative firms must balance two competing goals. First, the entrepreneur must be adequately protected from failure to encourage innovation. However, if the attempt to innovate fails, the entrepreneur's firm should be liquidated and its assets redeployed elsewhere. Meeting these two goals is inherently challenging when contracts are incomplete and shaped by ex-post renegotiation. I investigate how firms can choose the maturity of their debt to motivate innovation. The theory highlights a novel interaction between low-powered incentives, renegotiation, and debt maturity.

Suggested Citation

  • Mitkov, Yuliyan, 2024. "A theory of debt maturity and innovation," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:218:y:2024:i:c:s0022053124000346
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2024.105828
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Maxi Günnewig & Yuliyan Mitkov, 2024. "Optimal Banking Arrangements: Liquidity Creation Without Financial Fragility," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2024_605, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Innovation; Debt; Incomplete contracts; Renegotiation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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