We employ dynamic threshold partial adjustment models to study the asymmetries in firms' adjustments toward their target leverage. Using a sample of US firms over the period 2002-2012, we document a negative impact of the Global Financial Crisis on the speed of leverage adjustment. In our...

We examine firm and industry characteristics associated with outsourcing and the relation between outsourcing and capital structure using a unique database of purchase contracts for a measure of firm outsourcing. We document firm, industry, and supplier characteristics that are significantly...

Examining a unique panel dataset of 22,076 firm-year observations for China's coalmining industry, we find that a firm's leverage significantly determines its coalmining fatality. We show, specifically, that leverage reduces a firm's safety investment and, hence, causes more fatalities. Our...

This paper introduces a new form of contingent capital, contingent convertible securities (CCSs), which might repeatedly convert between debt- and equity-like instruments depending on financial conditions. We derive explicit prices of corporate securities, assuming the cash flow is modeled as a...

Assuming an alternative corporate governance paradigm that puts employees in the firm's governance structures, as well as understanding their objective functions, we investigate capital structure decisions in an employee-governed firm. Examining corporate capital structure decisions in 12...

This paper uses a unique panel dataset to establish a causal relationship between the use of flexible contractual arrangements with labor and capital structure of the firm. Using the exogenous inter-temporal variation from government subsidies, I find that hiring more temporary workers leads...

In this study, we examine the impact of fair value accounting on corporate debt structures, i.e., debt conversion privilege and maturity term. We argue that fair value accounting affects agency conflicts between debtholders and shareholders via its impact on financial reporting quality....

This paper addresses the theoretical foundations of corporate failure prediction, using the neo-classical theory of capital structure as a starting point. The paper intends to demonstrate the feasibility of such an approach in a simple setting, i.e. by using a simple theoretical model and a...

In this paper we propose an integrated model of capital structure to study the partial adjustment process to the optimal long term debt ratio. In our analysis we consider the characteristics of the institutional environment as a factor that influences such adjustment. We use a sample of quoted...

We study a novel aspect of a firm's capital structure, namely the profile of its debt maturity dates. In a simple theoretical framework we show that the dispersion of debt maturities constitutes an important dimension of capital structure choice, driven by firm characteristics and debt rollover...