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The interest rate and credit channel in Belgium: an investigation with micro-level firm data

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  • Butzen, Paul
  • Fuss, Catherine
  • Vermeulen, Philip

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of monetary policy on firms' investment behaviour. The analysis relies on a comprehensive database of Belgian firms covering all sectors of economic activity and firms of all sizes. We proceed in two steps. First, we estimate a reduced-form investment equation derived from the neo-classical model, augmented by cash flow. This equation is estimated by the Arellano and Bond (1991) GMM procedure. Second, we compute the elasticity of the user cost of capital and the cash flow/capital ratio to the policy-controlled interest rate. We estimate the model for various sample splits according to sectors and sizes. Our results indicate that small firms are more sensitive to monetary policy than large firms, and that services are almost unaffected. Since the impact differs across sectors and sizes, we can conclude that monetary policy produces distributional effects JEL Classification: C23, D21, E50

Suggested Citation

  • Butzen, Paul & Fuss, Catherine & Vermeulen, Philip, 2001. "The interest rate and credit channel in Belgium: an investigation with micro-level firm data," Working Paper Series 107, European Central Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:2001107
    Note: 327651
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    1. von Kalckreuth, Ulf & Hernando, Ignacio & Generale, Andrea & Chatelain, Jean Bernard & Vermeulen, Philip, 2001. "Firm Investment and Monetary Policy Transmission in the Euro Area," Discussion Paper Series 1: Economic Studies 2001,20, Deutsche Bundesbank.
    2. Taha Bahadir Sarac & OkYAY Ucan, 2013. "The Interest Rate Channel in Turkey: An Investigation with Kalman Filter Approach," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 3(4), pages 874-884.
    3. Arslan Majeed & Shahid Mansoor Hashmi & Romila Qamar, 2017. "Monetary Policy Transmission and Firms’ Investment: Evidence From the Manufacturing Sector of Pakistan," Romanian Economic Journal, Department of International Business and Economics from the Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest, vol. 20(66), pages 2-34, December.
    4. Carlos Andrés Cano Gamboa & Marcela Orozco Chávez & Luis Alfonso Sánchez Betancur, 2008. "Mecanismo de transmisión de las tasas de interés en Colombia (2001-2007)," Revista Cuadernos de Economia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, FCE, CID, July.
    5. Chatelain, Jean-Bernard & Tiomo, André, 2001. "Investment, the cost of capital, and monetary policy in the nineties in France: a panel data investigation," Working Paper Series 106, European Central Bank.
    6. Paul Butzen & Catherine Fuss & Philip Vermeulen, 2002. "The impact of uncertainty on investment plans," Working Paper Research 24, National Bank of Belgium.
    7. Ignacio Hernando & André Tiomo, 2002. "Financial constraints and investment in France and Spain: a comparison using firm level data," Working Papers 0214, Banco de España.
    8. Jean-Bernard Chatelain, 2003. "Structural modelling of financial constraints on investment: where do we stand?," Chapters, in: Paul Butzen & Catherine Fuss (ed.), Firms’ Investment and Finance Decisions, chapter 2, pages 40-58, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    9. Santiago Villegas Salazar, 2009. "Evidencia del canal de la hoja de balance a través de la inversión de las empresas colombianas (1995-2007)," Revista ESPE - Ensayos Sobre Política Económica, Banco de la República, vol. 27(60), pages 168-215, December.
    10. Jean-Bernard Chatelain & Andrea Generale & Ignacio Hernando & Philip Vermeulen & Ulf von Kalckreuth, 2003. "New Findings on Firm Investment and Monetary Policy Transmission in the Euro Area," Post-Print halshs-00119490, HAL.
    11. Nehrebecki Marian, 2020. "Cash flow sensitivity of investment: Evidence from the Polish listed companies," Central European Economic Journal, Sciendo, vol. 7(54), pages 157-171, January.
    12. Jean-Bernard Chatelain & Michael Ehrmann & Andrea Generale & Jorge Martínez-Pagés & Philip Vermeulen & Andreas Worms, 2003. "Monetary Policy Transmission in the Euro Area: New Evidence From Micro Data on Firms and Banks," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 1(2-3), pages 731-742, 04/05.
    13. Jean-Bernard Chatelain & Andre Tiomo, 2002. "Investment and the Cost of Capital in the Nineties in France: A Panel Data Investigation," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-00112540, HAL.
    14. Catherine Fuss & Philip Vermeulen, 2008. "Firms' investment decisions in response to demand and price uncertainty," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(18), pages 2337-2351.
    15. Oxana Babecka Kucharcukova & Renata Pasalicova, 2017. "Firm Investment, Financial Constraints and Monetary Transmission: An Investigation with Czech Firm-Level Data," Working Papers 2017/16, Czech National Bank, Research and Statistics Department.
    16. Nagahata, Takashi & Sekine, Toshitaka, 2005. "Firm investment, monetary transmission and balance-sheet problems in Japan: an investigation using micro data," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 345-369, August.
    17. V. Périlleux & Q. Wibaut, 2004. "The transmission of monetary policy impulses in Belgium," Economic Review, National Bank of Belgium, issue ii, pages 37-45, June.
    18. J. B. Chatelain & Andrea Generale & I. Hernando & U. von Kalckreuth & P. Vermeulen, 2001. "Firm investment and monetary transmission in the euro area," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 431, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    19. Michele Cincera, 2003. "Financing constraints, fixed capital and R&D investment decisions of Belgian firms," Chapters, in: Paul Butzen & Catherine Fuss (ed.), Firms’ Investment and Finance Decisions, chapter 6, pages 129-152, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    20. Jean-Bernard Chatelain & Andre Tiomo, 2002. "Investment and the Cost of Capital in the Nineties in France: A Panel Data Investigation," Post-Print halshs-00112540, HAL.
    21. Jean-Bernard Chatelain, 2002. "Structural modelling of investment and financial constraints: Where do we stand?," Working Paper Research 28, National Bank of Belgium.
    22. Takashi Nagahata & Toshitaka Sekine, 2002. "The Effects of Monetary Policy on Firm Investment after the Collapse of the Asset Price Bubble: An Investigation Using Japanese Micro Data," Bank of Japan Working Paper Series Research and Statistics D, Bank of Japan.
    23. Kashyap, Anil K. & Mojon, Benoît & Terlizzese, Daniele & Backé, Peter, 2002. "Monetary Transmission in the Euro Area : Where Do We Stand?," Working Paper Series 114, European Central Bank.
    24. Geert Langenus, 2006. "Fiscal sustainability indicators and policy design in the face of ageing," Working Paper Research 102, National Bank of Belgium.
    25. Michele Cincera & Julien Ravet & Reinhilde Veugelers, 2014. "R&D Financing Constraints of Young and Old Innovation Leaders in the EU and the US," Working Papers TIMES² 2014-008, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    credit channel; investment; monetary transmission; Panel data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • E50 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - General

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