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Network effects in corporate financial policies

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Listed:
  • Grieser, William
  • Hadlock, Charles
  • LeSage, James
  • Zekhnini, Morad

Abstract

We present a spatial econometrics framework for estimating peer effects in capital structure. This approach exploits the heterogeneous and intransitive nature of peer networks to identify economically informative structural coefficients. In models of leverage levels, we detect significant peer-effect leverage coefficients that are on the order of 0.20, indicating a moderate but substantive level of strategic complementarity in capital structure decisions. We argue that prior estimates in the literature substantially overstate the magnitude of the underlying relation. Our evidence is robust to a wide variety of model modifications and supports the hypothesis that leverage is an important strategic choice variable.

Suggested Citation

  • Grieser, William & Hadlock, Charles & LeSage, James & Zekhnini, Morad, 2022. "Network effects in corporate financial policies," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(1), pages 247-272.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:144:y:2022:i:1:p:247-272
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2021.05.060
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    Cited by:

    1. Truong, Huynh Sang & Walz, Uwe, 2022. "Spillovers of PE Investments," SAFE Working Paper Series 357, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    2. Hui Zhao & Ao Lei & Yuhui Li & Dingjun Hong, 2023. "The Sectoral and Regional Peer Influences on Heavy-Pollution Corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-42, August.
    3. Andrea Nocera & M. Hashem Pesaran, 2022. "Causal Effects of the Fed's Large-Scale Asset Purchases on Firms' Capital Structure," CESifo Working Paper Series 9695, CESifo.
    4. Dong, Jichang & Liu, Xiaoting & Ji, Kangxian & Li, Xiuting & Dong, Zhi, 2023. "Peer Effects in Financial Investment of Board-interlocked Firms: An Information Sharing Perspective," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1490-1508.
    5. Zhou, Lu Jolly & Kong, Weimin & Li, Yunshen, 2023. "Cross-listing and predation risk in product markets," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    6. Grieser, William & Maturana, Gonzalo & Spyridopoulos, Ioannis & Truffa, Santiago, 2022. "Agglomeration, knowledge spillovers, and corporate investment," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capital structure; Peer effects; Networks; Spatial econometrics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • C40 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - General

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