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Investment‐Cash Flow Sensitivities or Cash‐Cash Flow Sensitivities? An Evaluative Framework for Measures of Financial Constraints

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  • Bert D'Espallier
  • Sigrid Vandemaele
  • Ludo Peeters

Abstract

We evaluate two models commonly used for measuring financial constraints in their ability to discriminate between constrained and unconstrained firms. We compute firm‐specific estimates for the cash flow sensitivity of investment (CFSI), and the cash flow sensitivity of cash (CFSC) and provide a framework that summarizes the performance of each model into a single numerical metric. We argue that this ‘ex‐post’ approach provides interesting advantages over the traditional operationalization, in which firms are classified ‘ex‐ante’ on a theoretical basis. Our findings suggest the superiority of the CFSI model over the CFSC model for a sample of manufacturing SMEs in Belgium.

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  • Bert D'Espallier & Sigrid Vandemaele & Ludo Peeters, 2008. "Investment‐Cash Flow Sensitivities or Cash‐Cash Flow Sensitivities? An Evaluative Framework for Measures of Financial Constraints," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(7‐8), pages 943-968, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jbfnac:v:35:y:2008:i:7-8:p:943-968
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-5957.2008.02101.x
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    3. Lianggui Liao & Chan Wang & Hong-Xing Wen & Pu-Yan Nie & Ying Huang, 2023. "The Impact and Mechanism of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Corporate Financing: Evidence from Listed Companies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Niclas Andrén & Håkan Jankensgård, 2020. "Disappearing investment‐cash flow sensitivities: Earnings have not become a worse proxy for cash flow," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(5-6), pages 760-785, May.
    5. Malcolm Athaide & H. K. Pradhan, 2020. "A model of credit constraint for MSMEs in India," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 1159-1177, December.
    6. Bert D'Espallier & Alessandra Guariglia, 2015. "Does the investment opportunities bias affect the investment-cash flow sensitivities of unlisted SMEs?," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(1), pages 1-25, January.
    7. Filipe Silva & Carlos Carreira, 2012. "Measuring Firms’ Financial Constraints: A Rough Guide," Notas Económicas, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, issue 36, pages 23-46, December.
    8. Dirk Engel & Joel Stiebale, 2014. "Private equity, investment and financial constraints: firm-level evidence for France and the United Kingdom," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 197-212, June.
    9. Vikash Gautam & Rajendra R. Vaidya, 2018. "Evidence on the determinants of investment-cash flow sensitivity," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 229-244, December.
    10. Stefan Hirth & Marliese Uhrig‐Homburg, 2010. "Investment Timing when External Financing is Costly," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(7‐8), pages 929-949, July.
    11. Saddiqa & Ayaz ul Haq, 2017. "Firm Characteristics and Cash-Cash Flow Sensitivity of the Manufacturing Sector of Pakistan," Business & Economic Review, Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan, vol. 9(3), pages 71-103, September.
    12. Lou, Zhaohui & Xie, Qizhuo & Shen, Jim Huangnan & Lee, Chien-Chiang, 2024. "Does Supply Chain Finance (SCF) alleviate funding constraints of SMEs? Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    13. Voutsinas, Konstantinos & Werner, Richard A., 2011. "Credit supply and corporate capital structure: Evidence from Japan," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 20(5), pages 320-334.
    14. Syed Manzur Quader & Mohammed Nayeem Abdullah, 2016. "Cash Flow Sensitivity of Cash: A Cross Country Analysis," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 6(2), pages 562-572.

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