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Exorbitant privilege? Quantitative easing and the bond market subsidy of prospective fallen angels

Author

Listed:
  • Acharya, Viral V.
  • Banerjee, Ryan
  • Crosignani, Matteo
  • Eisert, Tim
  • Spigt, Renée

Abstract

We document capital misallocation in the U.S. investment-grade (IG) corporate bond market, driven by quantitative easing (QE). Prospective fallen angels — risky firms just above the IG cutoff — enjoyed subsidized bond financing in 2009–19. This effect is driven by Fed purchases of securities inducing long-duration IG-focused investors to rebalance their portfolios towards higher-yielding IG bonds. The benefiting firms (i) exploited the sluggish downward adjustment of credit ratings after M&A to finance risky acquisitions with bond issuances, and (ii) increased market share affecting competitors’ employment and investment, but (iii) suffered severe downgrades at the onset of the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Acharya, Viral V. & Banerjee, Ryan & Crosignani, Matteo & Eisert, Tim & Spigt, Renée, 2025. "Exorbitant privilege? Quantitative easing and the bond market subsidy of prospective fallen angels," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:170:y:2025:i:c:s0304405x25000923
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2025.104084
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capital misallocation; Corporate bond market; Investment-grade bonds; BBB rating; Large-scale asset purchases (LSAP); Credit ratings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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