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Asset Specificity of Nonfinancial Firms

Author

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  • Amir Kermani
  • Yueran Ma

Abstract

We develop a new data set to study asset specificity among nonfinancial firms. Our data cover the liquidation values of each category of assets on firms’ balance sheets and provides information across major industries. First, we find that nonfinancial firms have high asset specificity. For example, the liquidation value of fixed assets is 35% of the net book value in the average industry. Second, we analyze the determinants of asset specificity and document that assets’ physical attributes (e.g., mobility, durability, and customization) play a crucial role. Third, we investigate several implications. Consistent with theories of investment irreversibility, high asset specificity is associated with less disinvestment and stronger effects of uncertainty on investment activities. We also find that the increasing prevalence of intangible assets has not significantly reduced firms’ liquidation values.

Suggested Citation

  • Amir Kermani & Yueran Ma, 2023. "Asset Specificity of Nonfinancial Firms," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 138(1), pages 205-264.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:qjecon:v:138:y:2023:i:1:p:205-264.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/qje/qjac030
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Martin Kornejew & Chen Lian & Yueran Ma & Pablo Ottonello & Diego J. Perez, 2024. "Bankruptcy Resolution and Credit Cycles," NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2024, volume 39, pages 1-39, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Carola Frydman, 2024. "Comment on "Bankruptcy Resolution and Credit Cycles" 2," NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2024, volume 39, pages 55-61, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Andrés Blanco & Isaac Baley, 2022. "The Macroeconomics of Irreversibility," Working Papers 1312, Barcelona School of Economics.
    4. Mahdi Ebsim & Miguel Faria-e-Castro & Julian Kozlowski, 2025. "When Liquidity Matters: Firm Balance Sheets during Large Crises," Working Papers 2025-019, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, revised 11 Mar 2026.
    5. Louis-Marie Harpedanne de Belleville, 2024. "Bank's skin-in-the-game and hold-up by illiquid firms: strategic bargaining, dynamic inconsistency and credit constraints," PSE Working Papers hal-04792104, HAL.
    6. Fan, Jing & Qin, Chuan & Jing, Huiting, 2025. "Credit constraints in business networks: Impact of supply chain linkages and financial uncertainty," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 85(PE).
    7. Christian Keuschnigg & Michael Kogler & Johannes Matt, 2022. "Banks, Credit Reallocation, and Creative Destruction," CESifo Working Paper Series 10093, CESifo.
    8. Gill, Andrej & Heller, David, 2024. "Leveraging intellectual property: The value of harmonized enforcement regimes," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    9. Ni, Yunsong & Sun, Jiaqi, 2025. "Digital transformation and the development of servitized manufacturing in China: An asset specificity perspective," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    10. Zhou, Peng & Li, Xiang & Shi, Xing & Jiang, Kun, 2025. "Spillover of the carbon risk along the supply chain: Evidence from the U.S. corporate bond market," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    11. He, Chen & Peng, Bo & Dong, Yahao & Deng, Bofu, 2025. "The dual effects of supplier stability on corporate innovation: A path dependence perspective," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    12. Danilo Stojanovic & Veljko Bojovic, 2025. "Firm-level Uncertainty and Frictions: Implications for Capital and Financial Decisions in the US," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp793, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.

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