The effects of financial frictions on Slovenian companies: A panel VAR approach

Darja Zabavnik and Miroslav Verbič

Finance Research Letters, 2023, vol. 58, issue PC

Abstract: In this paper, we investigate the impact of imperfect financial markets on the business investment of Slovenian non-financial companies. We focus on exploring the borrower's balance sheet channel, through which companies’ worsening balance sheets, reduce the availability of external finance. The effects of exogenous shocks are, therefore, amplified through the financial accelerator mechanism and affect the overall economy. Using data from annual reports of Slovenian non-financial companies from 2005 to 2020, we estimate a panel VAR model on various sample definitions. The results confirm the existence of the balance sheet channel, as the impulse response of investment to cash flow shocks is statistically significant. This effect is especially noticeable during the period from 2006 to 2012. Our findings suggest that financial frictions affect the availability of external financing and, consequently, the investment activity of Slovenian non-financial companies. Policymakers should prioritize measures to ensure adequate external financing, particularly for financially constrained firms, to mitigate the negative impact of reduced economic activity during periods of financial distress and economic downturns.

Keywords: Balance sheet channel; Financial frictions; Business investment; Transmission channels; Panel VAR approach (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C33 E22 E32 E44 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:finlet:v:58:y:2023:i:pc:s1544612323009352

DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2023.104563

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