Zombie Lending: Theoretical, International, and Historical Perspectives

Viral Acharya, Matteo Crosignani, Tim Eisert and Sascha Steffen

No 16685, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This paper surveys the theory on zombie lending incentives and the consequences of zombie lending for the real economy. It also offers a historical perspective by reviewing the growing empirical evidence on zombie lending along three dimensions: (i) the role of under-capitalized banks, (ii) effects on zombie firms, and (iii) spillovers and distortions for non-zombie firms. We then provide an overview of how zombie lending can be attenuated. Finally, we use a sample of U.S. publicly listed firms to compare various measures proposed in the literature to classify firms as ``zombies." We identify definitions of zombie firms that are adequate to investigate economic inefficiency in the form of real sector competitive distortions of zombie lending. We find that only definitions that are based on interest rate subsidies are able to detect these spillovers and thereby provide evidence in support of credit misallocation.

Keywords: Zombie credit; Credit misallocation; Capital misallocation; Bank capital; Undercapitalized banks; Interst rate subsidy; Spillovers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-03
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Journal Article: Zombie Lending: Theoretical, International, and Historical Perspectives (2022)
Working Paper: Zombie Lending: Theoretical, International and Historical Perspectives (2022)
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