Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/37294 
Year of Publication: 
2010
Series/Report no.: 
Beiträge zur Jahrestagung des Vereins für Socialpolitik 2010: Ökonomie der Familie - Session: Capital Structure and Taxation No. G7-V2
Publisher: 
Verein für Socialpolitik, Frankfurt a. M.
Abstract: 
This paper develops a model where firms' equilibrium capital structures depend on firms' risk characteristics and investors' aggregate risk appetite. I assume that the law of one price fails because security markets are incomplete and risk-sharing through short-selling or borrowing is limited. Investors have heterogeneous risk preferences. Thus, firms can create value through the issuance of debt and equity securities that optimally meet investor demand. I show that, in equilibrium, firms with high market risk have a lower debt ratio than firms with low market risk. Empirical evidence that completes this paper supports the relevance of this theoretical result.
Subjects: 
capital structure
security design
risk-sharing
segmented markets
JEL: 
G32
D52
G12
Document Type: 
Conference Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.