Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/24107 
more recent Version: 
Year of Publication: 
2005
Series/Report no.: 
ZEW Discussion Papers No. 05-14
Publisher: 
Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung (ZEW), Mannheim
Abstract: 
This paper identifies the entrepreneur's exposure to idiosyncratic risk as an important determinant of the capital structure of private companies. The exposure to idiosyncratic risk is approximated by the share of personal net worth invested in one company (SNWI). Exposure to idiosyncratic risk increases cost of equity capital since higher equity returns are required as compensation. This makes bank financing more attractive. We find that SNWI increases the demand for new bank loans whereas we cannot identify an effect on the supply. Equilibrium values of leverage increase significantly in SNWI but there is no effect on the equilibrium interest rate.
Subjects: 
entrepreneurial investment
capital structure
underdiversification
private companies
JEL: 
G30
G32
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
267.09 kB





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