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Interest Expenses, Coverage Ratio, and Firm Distress

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Abstract

Historically, the pass-through of federal funds rate increases into firms’ interest expenses has been incomplete and delayed, with the peak responses occurring about one year after a policy rate increase. These findings indicate that current corporate interest rate expenses will continue to increase, even absent any additional rate hikes going forward. Higher interest expenses can lead to firm distress and defaults, which have adverse effects on employment and investment. These effects can be amplified through the financial accelerator channel.

Suggested Citation

  • Falk Bräuning & Gustavo Joaquim & Hillary Stein, 2023. "Interest Expenses, Coverage Ratio, and Firm Distress," Current Policy Perspectives 96664, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedbcq:96664
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel Greenwald, 2019. "Firm Debt Covenants and the Macroeconomy: The Interest Coverage Channel," 2019 Meeting Papers 520, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    2. Sudheer Chava & Michael R. Roberts, 2008. "How Does Financing Impact Investment? The Role of Debt Covenants," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 63(5), pages 2085-2121, October.
    3. Gabriel Chodorow‐Reich & Antonio Falato, 2022. "The Loan Covenant Channel: How Bank Health Transmits to the Real Economy," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 77(1), pages 85-128, February.
    4. Òscar Jordà, 2005. "Estimation and Inference of Impulse Responses by Local Projections," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(1), pages 161-182, March.
    5. José Luis Montiel Olea & Mikkel Plagborg‐Møller, 2021. "Local Projection Inference Is Simpler and More Robust Than You Think," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 89(4), pages 1789-1823, July.
    6. Falk Bräuning & Victoria Ivashina & Ali Ozdagli, 2022. "High-Yield Debt Covenants and Their Real Effects," Working Papers 22-5, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mattia Iotti & Elisa Manghi & Giuseppe Bonazzi, 2024. "Debt Sustainability Assessment in the Biogas Sector: Application of Interest Coverage Ratios in a Sample of Agricultural Firms in Italy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-34, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    monetary policy; interest expenses; firm distress;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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