Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/56155 
Year of Publication: 
2002
Series/Report no.: 
SSE/EFI Working Paper Series in Economics and Finance No. 510
Publisher: 
Stockholm School of Economics, The Economic Research Institute (EFI), Stockholm
Abstract: 
In this paper we study the changes in corporate valuation, investments, and financing choices induced by the formation of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in Europe. We use corporate-level data from ten countries that adopted the euro, the three EU countries that did not join EMU, as well as Norway and Switzerland. We show that the introduction of the euro has increased valuations for large firms in EMU countries, especially in countries that had experienced currency crises. Firm values have also increased for firms that were previously exposed to currency risks irrespective of size. Investments have increased for all firms, but the effects are bigger for large firms and for firms coming from countries with experiences of currency depreciations. The increase in investments has been financed mainly via debt issues. The evidence provided here supports the view that the introduction of the euro has lowered firms' cost of capital by eliminating currency risks among the countries that have adopted the common currency, and by further increasing capital market integration in Europe.
Subjects: 
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
the euro
valuation
investment
debt
equity
cost of capital
currency risk
JEL: 
F33
F36
G32
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
442.64 kB





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