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Corporate zombification: post-pandemic risks in the euro area

Author

Listed:
  • Helmersson, Tobias
  • Mingarelli, Luca
  • Mosk, Benjamin
  • Pietsch, Allegra
  • Ravanetti, Beatrice
  • Shakir, Tamarah
  • Wendelborn, Jonas

Abstract

Policy measures aimed at supporting corporates and the economy through the coronavirus pandemic may have supported not just otherwise viable firms, but also unprofitable but still operating firms – often referred to as “zombies”. This has in turn raised questions about an increased risk of zombification in the euro area economy, which could constrain the post-pandemic recovery. Firm-level, loan-level and supervisory data for euro area companies suggest that zombie firms may have temporarily benefited from loan schemes and accommodative credit conditions – but likely only to a modest degree. These firms may face tighter eligibility criteria for schemes and more recognition of credit risk in debt and loan pricing in the future. Tackling the risk of zombification more fundamentally requires the consideration of suggested reforms to insolvency frameworks and better infrastructure for banks to manage non-performing loans. JEL Classification: E51, G21, G32, G38, L25

Suggested Citation

  • Helmersson, Tobias & Mingarelli, Luca & Mosk, Benjamin & Pietsch, Allegra & Ravanetti, Beatrice & Shakir, Tamarah & Wendelborn, Jonas, 2021. "Corporate zombification: post-pandemic risks in the euro area," Financial Stability Review, European Central Bank, vol. 1.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecb:fsrart:2021:0001:1
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    File URL: https://www.ecb.europa.eu//pub/financial-stability/fsr/special/html/ecb.fsrart202105_01~f9b060744e.en.html
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Guerini, Mattia & Nesta, Lionel & Ragot, Xavier & Schiavo, Stefano, 2024. "Zombification of the economy? Assessing the effectiveness of French government support during COVID-19 lockdown," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 263-280.
    2. Beck, Thorsten & Peltonen, Tuomas & Perotti, Enrico & Sánchez Serrano, Antonio & Suarez, Javier, 2023. "Corporate credit and leverage in the EU: recent evolution, main drivers and financial stability implications," Report of the Advisory Scientific Committee 14, European Systemic Risk Board.
    3. Durrani, Agha & Metzler, Julian & Michail, Nektarios & Werner, Johannes Gabriel, 2022. "Bank lending rates and the remuneration for risk: evidence from portfolio and loan level data," Working Paper Series 2753, European Central Bank.
    4. Mingarelli, Luca & Ravanetti, Beatrice & Shakir, Tamarah & Wendelborn, Jonas, 2022. "Dawn of the (half) dead: the twisted world of zombie identification," Working Paper Series 2743, European Central Bank.
    5. Kotone Yamada & Yukio Minoura & Jouchi Nakajima & Tomoyuki Yagi, 2023. "Corporate Finance Facility and Resource Allocation: Research Trends and Developments during the Spread of COVID-19," Bank of Japan Working Paper Series 23-E-1, Bank of Japan.
    6. Mirko Licchetta & Eric Meyermans, 2022. "Gross Fixed Capital Formation in the Euro Area During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 57(4), pages 238-246, July.
    7. Bank for International Settlements, 2022. "Private sector debt and financial stability," CGFS Papers, Bank for International Settlements, number 67, december.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate zombification; credit misallocation; financing policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E51 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Money Supply; Credit; Money Multipliers
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • 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
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance

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