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Financial Contracting Under Imperfect Enforcement

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  • Tore Ellingsen
  • Eirik Gaard Kristiansen

Abstract

We develop a model of financial contracting under imperfect enforcement. Financial contracts are designed to keep entrepreneurs from diverting project returns, but enforcement is probabilistic and penalties are limited. The model rationalizes the prevalence of straight debt and common stock, and its predictions are consistent with a host of empirical capital structure regularities. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Tore Ellingsen & Eirik Gaard Kristiansen, 2011. "Financial Contracting Under Imperfect Enforcement," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 126(1), pages 323-371.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:qjecon:v:126:y:2011:i:1:p:323-371
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    10. Richard Gilbert & Eirik Gaard Kristiansen, 2018. "Licensing and innovation with imperfect contract enforcement," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(2), pages 297-314, June.
    11. Kvaløy, Ola & Olsen, Trond E., 2015. "The tenuous relationship between effort and performance pay," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 32-39.
    12. Trigilia, Giulio, 2016. "Optimal Leverage and Strategic Disclosure," Economic Research Papers 269584, University of Warwick - Department of Economics.
    13. Christian Keuschnigg & Michael Kogler, 2022. "Trade and credit reallocation: How banks help shape comparative advantage," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 282-305, February.
    14. Trigilia, Giulio, 2016. "Optimal Leverage and Strategic Disclosure," CRETA Online Discussion Paper Series 18, Centre for Research in Economic Theory and its Applications CRETA.
    15. Sewaid, Ahmed & Parker, Simon C. & Kaakeh, Abdulkader, 2021. "Explaining serial crowdfunders' dynamic fundraising performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(4).
    16. Tore Ellingsen & Eirik Gaard Kristiansen, 2022. "Fair and Square: A Retention Model of Managerial Compensation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(5), pages 3604-3624, May.
    17. Arbel, Yonathan A., 2016. "Shielding of assets and lending contracts," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 26-35.
    18. Choi, Jay Pil & Kristiansen, Eirik Gaard & Nahm, Jae, 2017. "Communication of soft information: Reputation and imperfect enforcement of reporting quality," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 91-106.
    19. Trigilia, Giulio, 2016. "Optimal Leverage and Strategic Disclosure," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1111, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.

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