We study the differences in the allocation of cash flow between Western European private and public firms. Public firms have a significantly higher investment-cash flow sensitivity than comparable private firms. These differences in investment-cash flow sensitivities are not due to more...

To create value, a firm must invest in projects that provide a return greater than the cost of capital. The cost of capital is not observed and its estimation requires assumptions on investors' consumption, savings, and portfolio decisions. We review the academic literature on firms' cost of...