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Throwing good money after bad: Zombie lending and the supply chain contagion of firm exit

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  • Dai, Yun
  • Li, Xuchao
  • Liu, Dinghua
  • Lu, Jiankun

Abstract

This paper studies whether the bailout of downstream firms helps stop the supply chain propagation of business failure. By analyzing persistent zombie lending in China, we show that such a bailout policy does not work. Zombie lending to downstream firms does not reduce the exit likelihood of upstream firms. Worse, it distorts efficiency-based firm exit in upstream industries. The exit distortion effect works through the trade credit chain and is more profound in industries with stricter financial constraints and tighter supply chain connections. Our findings reveal the importance of credit allocation efficiency for the Schumpeterian process of creative destruction that is essential for economic growth.

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  • Dai, Yun & Li, Xuchao & Liu, Dinghua & Lu, Jiankun, 2021. "Throwing good money after bad: Zombie lending and the supply chain contagion of firm exit," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 379-402.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:189:y:2021:i:c:p:379-402
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2021.06.042
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    Cited by:

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    2. Yuxue Chi & Zhongbo Jing & Zhidong Liu & Xinge Zhou, 2024. "Risk spillovers in Chinese production network: A supply-side shock perspective," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Qilin Mao & Jiayun Xu, 2024. "Zombie firms, misallocation and manufacturing capacity utilization rate: Evidence from China," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(2), pages 641-682, April.
    4. Jing Bu & Julan Du & Jiancai Pi, 2024. "Do zombie firms affect healthy firms' exporting? Evidence from China," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(3), pages 707-738, July.
    5. Geng, Yong & Xiang, Xiaojian & Zhang, Guosheng & Li, Xue, 2024. "Digital transformation along the supply chain: Spillover effects from vertical partnerships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    6. Shangming Yang & Yanjiang Zhang & Jinyuan Zhang & Bochao Zhang, 2024. "Technology accessibility and the local government's incentive to aid zombie firms in China," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(2), pages 501-523, April.
    7. Deng, Jiapin & Liu, Qiao, 2024. "Good finance, bad finance, and resource misallocation: Evidence from China," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    8. Wei Shao & Ziqi Chen & Huaiyu Liu, 2022. "How do political connections affect the formation of zombie firms? Evidence from Chinese manufacturing listed enterprises," Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, The Crawford School, The Australian National University, vol. 36(2), pages 17-31, November.
    9. Xiaohan Guo & Jianliang Ye & Wunhong Su & Deming Luo & Xiangrong Jin, 2022. "Do zombie firms crowd out healthy firms and slow their growth? Evidence from China," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 40(6), November.
    10. Kong, Gaowen & Wang, Shuai & Wang, Yanan, 2022. "Fostering firm productivity through green finance: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Supply chain; Exit contagion; Zombie lending; Creative destruction; Trade credit;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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