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What Determines Debt Maturity?

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  • Rodolfo E. Manuelli

Abstract

What determines the maturity structure of debt? In this article, I develop a simple model to explore how the optimal maturity of debt issued by a firm (or a country) depends both on the firm?s cyclical state and other features of the economic environment in which it operates. I find that firms with better current earnings and better growth prospects issue debt with longer maturity, while firms operating in more-volatile environments issue debt with shorter maturity. Yield to maturity is a poor indicator of the risk of debt issued by a firm. The reason is simple: Yield to maturity captures both default risk and a component that is a pseudo term premium. In the model, the market does require a term premium and one appears only because of the risk of default. It is not possible to separate the impact of maturity and risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Rodolfo E. Manuelli, 2019. "What Determines Debt Maturity?," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, vol. 101(3), pages 155-176.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedlrv:00119
    DOI: 10.20955/r.101.155-76
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General

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