Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/242121 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
Deutsche Bundesbank Discussion Paper No. 29/2021
Publisher: 
Deutsche Bundesbank, Frankfurt a. M.
Abstract: 
Using the exogenous shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, we study how informed market participants evaluate fiscal space. Short-selling activity shifted upon the onset of the pandemic towards companies with low financial flexibility only in countries with limited fiscal space. Among these companies, short sellers targeted especially those that generate their revenue mainly in the domestic market. These short sellers entered their positions before the market crash, generating thereby a significant abnormal return. These findings support the notion that short sellers bet on the inability of governments with budgetary constraints to provide sufficient stimulus to their economy in times of crises.
Subjects: 
COVID-19 pandemic
short selling
fiscal space
institutional investors
JEL: 
G14
G23
H30
ISBN: 
978-3-95729-837-9
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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