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Financing Firms in Hibernation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Tatiana Didier
  • Federico Huneeus
  • Mauricio Larrain
  • Sergio L. Schmukler

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic halted economic activity worldwide, hurting firms and pushing many of them toward bankruptcy. This paper discusses four central issues that have emerged in the academic and policy debates related to firm financing during the downturn. First, the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic is radically different from past crises, with important consequences for optimal policy responses. Second, it is important to preserve firms’ relationships with key stakeholders (e.g., workers, suppliers, customers, and creditors) to avoid inefficient bankruptcies and long-term detrimental economic effects. Third, firms can benefit from “hibernation,” incurring the minimum bare expenses necessary to withstand the pandemic while using credit to remain alive until the crisis subdues. Fourth, the existing legal and regulatory infrastructure is ill-equipped to deal with an exogenous systemic shock like a pandemic. Financial sector policies can help channel credit to firms, but they are hard to implement and entail different trade-offs.
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  • Tatiana Didier & Federico Huneeus & Mauricio Larrain & Sergio L. Schmukler, 2020. "Financing Firms in Hibernation During the COVID-19 Pandemic," World Bank Publications - Reports 33611, The World Bank Group.
  • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wboper:33611
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Finance and Financial Sector Development - Capital Markets and Capital Flows Finance and Financial Sector Development - Debt Markets Finance and Financial Sector Development - Financial Crisis Management & Restructuring Finance and Financial Sector Development - Securities Markets Policy & Regulation Macroeconomics and Economic Growth - Business Cycles and Stabilization Policies Macroeconomics and Economic Growth - Economic Conditions and Volatility Macroeconomics and Economic Growth - Fiscal & Monetary Policy Private Sector Development - Small and Medium Size Enterprises;

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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