We examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on firm borrowing behavior across 31 countries. We exploit the quasi-experimental properties of this pandemic to investigate how national culture, government preparedness, and response to the pandemic affect corporate borrowing and the structure of...

Using a new dataset on sectoral credit exposures covering financial and non-financial sectors in 115 economies over the period 1940-2014, we document the following evidence that corporate debt plays a key role in explaining boom-bust cycles, financial crises, and slow macroeconomic recoveries:...

Do stock markets act as a spare tire during banking crises, providing an alternative corporate financing channel and mitigating the economic severity of these crises? Using firm-level data in 36 countries from 1990 through 2011, we find that the adverse consequences of banking crises on equity...

Die Liberalisierung der globalen Finanzmärkte hat ihr Ziel verfehlt, für mehr Stabilität und Wirtschaftswachstum zu sorgen. Stattdessen folgt seit 30 Jahren eine Krise auf die andere. Jetzt werden etliche Bankenreformen diskutiert, um die Finanzmärkte krisensicherer zu machen. Dabei...