Insolvency and Economic Development: Regional Variation and Adjustment
Richard Fabling and
Arthur Grimes
No 03_18, Working Papers from Motu Economic and Public Policy Research
Abstract:
This paper examines the determinants of the rate of forced insolvency in New Zealand. The study incorporates two key features. First, we use regional as well as national data to explain insolvencies. The data cover six regions which have had a variety of economic experiences over the sample period (1988-2003). Second, we explain the total rate of forced insolvency in New Zealand, including both personal bankruptcies and involuntary company liquidations. We find that increases in regional economic activity and regional property values (the latter representing collateral effects) reduce regional insolvencies. An increase in credit provision (increased leverage) raises the rate of insolvencies. In a low-inflation environment, a rise in the inflation rate reduces insolvencies, but this effect disappears in a high-inflation environment. We show that interactions between economic activity, leverage and property price shocks provide a rich understanding of how region-specific shocks can compound into significant localised economic cycles.
Keywords: Insolvency; liquidation; bankruptcy; collateral; regional economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G33 O18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 44 pages
Date: 2004-02
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)
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https://motu-www.motu.org.nz/wpapers/03_18.pdf
Related works:
Journal Article: Insolvency and economic development: Regional variation and adjustment (2005) 
Working Paper: Insolvency and Economic Development:Regional Variation and Adjustment (2004) 
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mtu:wpaper:03_18
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