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Relationship Lending and Employment Decisions in Firms’ Bad Times

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  • Murro, Pierluigi
  • Oliviero, Tommaso
  • Zazzaro, Alberto

Abstract

Using firm-level survey information, we investigate whether relationship lending affects firms’ employment decisions in the face of negative sales shock. We find that firms with a durable relationship with their main bank display significantly less employment growth sensitivity to such shocks, especially where these are transitory. The result is stronger for younger and smaller firms that benefit from tighter bank-firm relationships, and for firms in sectors or economic environments where the costs of employment adjustment are greater. Our findings indicate that relationship lending provides liquidity insurance to firms to meet their demand for labor hoarding.

Suggested Citation

  • Murro, Pierluigi & Oliviero, Tommaso & Zazzaro, Alberto, 2023. "Relationship Lending and Employment Decisions in Firms’ Bad Times," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 58(6), pages 2657-2691, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jfinqa:v:58:y:2023:i:6:p:2657-2691_12
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    Cited by:

    1. Pierluigi Murro & Valentina Peruzzi, 2022. "Relationship lending and the use of trade credit: the role of relational capital and private information," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 327-360, June.
    2. Patrick Behr & Lars Norden & Raquel Oliveira, 2020. "Labor and Finance: the effect of bank relationships," Working Papers Series 534, Central Bank of Brazil, Research Department.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings

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