Optimal capital structure, ambiguity aversion, and leverage puzzles

Sami Attaoui, Wenbin Cao, Xiaoman Duan and Hening Liu

Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 2021, vol. 129, issue C

Abstract: We introduce ambiguity about the asset value dynamics of a firm into a trade-off framework of capital structure. We characterize investors’ preferences by recursive multiple priors utility. We show that equity holders’ ambiguity aversion significantly reduces the optimal leverage and debt capacity. In particular, equity holders with sufficiently strong ambiguity aversion perceive their asset value dynamics to be “too valuable to lose” upon bankruptcy and therefore optimally choose zero leverage and forgo the tax benefits of debt to avoid possible default. We also show that the distortion effect of ambiguity on the leverage choice is stronger (weaker) when a firm’s equity and debt markets are segmented (integrated).

Keywords: Ambiguity aversion; Capital structure; Debt conservatism; Trade-off theory; Market segmentation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:dyncon:v:129:y:2021:i:c:s0165188921001111

DOI: 10.1016/j.jedc.2021.104176

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