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Saving for a rainy day: Evidence from the 2000 dot-com crash and the 2008 credit crisis

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  • Chen, Hsuan-Chi
  • Chou, Robin K.
  • Lu, Chien-Lin

Abstract

This article examines the role of pre-saved cash in helping financially constrained firms during the 2000 dot-com crash and the 2008 financial crisis, both of which were exogenous shocks to industrial firms. The results show that constrained firms tended to increase capital investments during these severe economic downturns if they had pre-saved more cash. Constrained firms instead exhibited lower excess returns and incurred higher likelihoods of financial distress during the severe downturns if they had saved less cash prior to the events. Firms that experienced the 2000 dot-com crash and saved cash thereafter were less likely to default during the 2008 financial crisis, indicating the existence and benefit of learning effects. This study supports a precautionary motive for cash savings, showing that pre-saved cash helps financially constrained firms fund investment and reduces the likelihood of financial distress during severe market downturns. It demonstrates that saving for a rainy day really is valuable.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Hsuan-Chi & Chou, Robin K. & Lu, Chien-Lin, 2018. "Saving for a rainy day: Evidence from the 2000 dot-com crash and the 2008 credit crisis," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 680-699.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:48:y:2018:i:c:p:680-699
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2017.12.025
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    4. Miftah Zikri & Syed Shams & Afzalur Rashid & Chandrasekhar Krishnamurti, 2024. "Does size matter? Examining the probability of firm emergence from bankruptcy," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 24(4), pages 669-713, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cash holdings; Financial crisis; Financial distress; Value of cash;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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