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Going Bankrupt in China
[The politics of foreclosures]

Author

Listed:
  • Bo Li
  • Jacopo Ponticelli

Abstract

Using a new case-level dataset, we document a set of stylized facts on bankruptcy in China and study how the staggered introduction of specialized courts across Chinese cities affected insolvency resolution and the local economy. For identification, we compare bankruptcy cases handled by specialized versus traditional civil courts within the same city and filed in the same year. We find that specialized courts decrease case duration by 36% relative to traditional civil courts. We provide evidence consistent with court specialization increasing efficiency via selection of better trained judges and higher judicial independence from local politicians. We document that cities introducing specialized courts experience a relative reallocation of employment out of zombie firms-intensive sectors, as well as faster firm entry and a larger increase in average capital productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Bo Li & Jacopo Ponticelli, 2022. "Going Bankrupt in China [The politics of foreclosures]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 26(3), pages 449-486.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:revfin:v:26:y:2022:i:3:p:449-486.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/rof/rfab023
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    Cited by:

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    2. Wang, Shihao & Wang, Jiamin & Sahil Maqsood, Umer & Wang, Keyun & Li, Qian, 2023. "Creditor protection and trade credit financing: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
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    5. Yue Zhang, 2023. "Speed for Safety: The Establishment of Bankruptcy Courts and Bank Credit Risk in China," Journal of Applied Finance & Banking, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 13(6), pages 1-2.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Specialized courts; Political influence; Court efficiency; Zombie firms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • K22 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Business and Securities Law
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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