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Investment, payout, and cash management under risk and ambiguity

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  • Luo, Pengfei
  • Tian, Yuan

Abstract

This study extends the theoretical model of dynamic investment, dividend payout, costly external financing, and liquidation for financially constrained firms by incorporating ambiguity. We demonstrate that ambiguity aversion induces a trade-off between the “bird-in-hand” effect and an amplified precautionary motive in determining firms’ cash management, which consequently affects firms’ investment, dividend payout, costly external financing, and liquidation decisions. Unlike the models considering risk only, we identify a non-monotonic relationship between the endogenous payout boundary and ambiguity aversion. Our model generates several new implications, including providing an explanation for the high cash holdings and speed-up of asset sales during the recent COVID-19 crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Luo, Pengfei & Tian, Yuan, 2022. "Investment, payout, and cash management under risk and ambiguity," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:141:y:2022:i:c:s0378426622001479
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2022.106551
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhao, Zhiming & Wang, Shihui & Luo, Pengfei, 2024. "Optimal short-termism and liquidity management," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    2. Zhao, Zhiming & Liu, Yuyao & Pan, Qiong, 2023. "Cash holdings, ambiguity aversion, and investment puzzles," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    3. Wu, Kai & Lu, Yufei & Li, Donghui, 2025. "Contingent cash crunch: How do performance commitments affect acquirer liquidity?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    4. Yuan, Liuchuang & Jiang, Jinglu & Mu, Congming & Chen, Tuyue, 2023. "Dynamic liquidity management with asymmetric adjustment costs," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Finance; Ambiguity; Cash holdings; Investment; Payout;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D25 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Intertemporal Firm Choice: Investment, Capacity, and Financing
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation
    • G35 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Payout Policy

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