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Trade-off theory and zero leverage

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  • Haddad, Kamal
  • Lotfaliei, Babak

Abstract

This paper documents that the timing of debt issuance is important to produce zero leverage in the firms’ cross-section based on the static trade-off theory. Therefore, even basics of the trade-off theory do not contradict with zero leverage, also known as the zero-leverage mystery. Earlier static trade-off models fail to produce zero leverage because they ignore the optimal timing to have debt. We introduce this new mechanism in the static trade-off model, which appears as strong as considering the default costs. We show the application of this mechanism to generate zero leverage in two varieties of the static trade-off models.

Suggested Citation

  • Haddad, Kamal & Lotfaliei, Babak, 2019. "Trade-off theory and zero leverage," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 165-170.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:31:y:2019:i:c:p:165-170
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2019.04.011
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    Cited by:

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    2. Hamza Almustafa & Imad Jabbouri & Ploypailin Kijkasiwat, 2023. "Economic Policy Uncertainty, Financial Leverage, and Corporate Investment: Evidence from U.S. Firms," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-19, January.
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    4. Paulo Miguel Gama & Fátima Sol Murta & Elisabete S. Vieira, 2024. "Local banking development and SME conservative financing policy. Does bank branch density matter?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(4), pages 1747-1765, December.
    5. Dawood Ashraf & Mohsin Khawaja & M. Ishaq Bhatti, 2022. "Raising capital amid economic policy uncertainty: an empirical investigation," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-32, December.
    6. Anton Miglo, 2020. "Zero-Debt Policy under Asymmetric Information, Flexibility and Free Cash Flow Considerations," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-25, November.
    7. Michael Espindola Araki & Henrique Castro Martins, 2022. "Integrating uncertainty and governance into a capital structure puzzle: can risk-taking and rule-taking explain zero-leverage firms?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(6), pages 1979-2034, August.
    8. Ricca, Leandro Telles & Jucá, Michele Nascimento & Hadad Junior, Eli, 2021. "Tax benefit and bankruptcy cost of debt," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 82-92.
    9. Chu Wang & Char-Lee Lok & Lian Kee Phua, 2023. "Ownership Structure and Capital Structure: Moderating Effect of Product Market Maturity," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Zero leverage; Static trade-off; Optimal capital structure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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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