DO ADJUSTMENT COSTS EXPLAIN INVESTMENT-CASH FLOW INSENSITIVITY?

Sangeeta Pratap

No 315, Computing in Economics and Finance 2000 from Society for Computational Economics

Abstract: In this paper, I explain two "puzzles" which have been observed in firm level data. (1) Firms which display a high sensitivity ofinvestment to cash ow (com- monly believed to be an indicator of liquidity constraints) usually have large unutilized lines of credit which, presumably, could be used to overcome the shortage of funds (2) Firms which are perceived to be extremely liquidity constrained actually show very little sensitivity ofinvestment to cash ow. I use a dynamic model of firm investment with liquidity constraints and non convex costs of adjustment of capital which can explain these facts. The fixed cost of adjustment implies that firms need to have a certain threshold level of financial resources before they can afford to invest and incur these costs. Below this level, investment will not be sensitive to increases in cash ow. Once they cross this threshold, firms' investment will be positively correlated with their financial resources until they reach their desired level of capital stock. However, even if investment is sensitive to cash ow, firms always borrow below their credit limit to guard against future bankruptcy or binding liquidity constraints. I show therefore, that a firm which displays investment cash- ow sensitivity is certainly liquidity constrained. However, the reverse is not necessarily true.

Date: 2000-07-05
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Related works:
Journal Article: Do adjustment costs explain investment-cash flow insensitivity? (2003)
Journal Article: Do adjustment costs explain investment-cash flow insensitivity? (2003)
Working Paper: Do Adjustment Costs Explain Investment-Cash Flow Insensitivity? (2001)
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