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Investment without Q

Author

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  • Gala, Vito D.
  • Gomes, Joao F.
  • Liu, Tong

Abstract

This paper proposes an alternative to standard investment-Q regressions. Policy functions summarize the key predictions of any dynamic investment model, are easy to estimate and, unlike Tobin’s Q, account for a large fraction of the variation in corporate investment. As such policy functions are much better suited to evaluate and estimate dynamic investment models. Using this superior characterization of firm investment behavior we use indirect inference methods to estimate deep parameters of a structural model of investment and show that investment adjustment cost parameters are generally better identified from estimated policy function coefficients.

Suggested Citation

  • Gala, Vito D. & Gomes, Joao F. & Liu, Tong, 2020. "Investment without Q," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 266-282.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:moneco:v:116:y:2020:i:c:p:266-282
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoneco.2019.10.014
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Investment; Policy functions; Indirect inference;
    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
    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection

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