In 2011, Colombia instituted a tax on repayment of bank loans, thereby increasing the cost of short-term bank credit more than long-term credit. Firms responded by cutting their short-term loans for liquidity management purposes and increasing their use of cash and trade credit. In industries...

In 2011, Colombia instituted a tax on repayment of bank loans, thereby increasing the cost of short-term bank credit more than long-term credit. Firms responded by cutting their short-term loans for liquidity management purposes and increasing their use of cash and trade credit. In industries...

This paper studies the bank credit and industry growth effects stemming from the introduction of a tax on bank debits. Using a sample of Latin American countries that implemented this tax at different times between 1986 and 2005, I exploit a key channel through which this levy affects the supply...