We build a model of debt for firms with investment projects, for which flexibility and free cash flow problems are important issues. We focus on the factors that lead the firm to select the zero-debt policy. Our model provides an explanation of the so-called "zero-leverage puzzle". It also helps...

We study the prices of a firm's debt and equity in a market where investors have private information and may exhibit differences of opinion. We show how debt and equity valuations, and the impact of public information and distress risk on these valuations, depend upon disagreement and the...

We show that firms’ debt maturity structure plays an important role in investment above and beyond that of leverage. Firms with a longer debt maturity structure tend to invest more. These results are stronger for firms with high leverage, profitability, and growth potential. We rationalize our...

Escape clauses, where small firms are exempt from particular tax rules, is a crucial feature of a number of corporate tax schemes, but creates incentives to avoid taxation by manipulating the measures that determine inclusion. We evaluate the impact of thin capitalization rules, which commonly...