"The costs of insufficient cash, referred to as "ripple effects," are discussed in detail. They arise because the firm is unable to invest in value-enhancing projects, must raise expensive external capital, or is forced to sell assets. Firms with the greatest potential to experience ripple...

Using a database of more than 180,000 private companies from 2000 to 2009, we find that the benefits of holding more cash vary substantially with a firm's size and the conditions it faces. Cash holdings matter most for small firms: When there are negative shocks to industry or macroeconomic...

Using a database of more than 180,000 private companies from 2000 to 2009, we find that the benefits of holding more cash vary substantially with a firm's size and the conditions it faces. Cash holdings matter most for small firms: when there are negative shocks to industry or macroeconomic...