IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/oabmxx/v9y2022i1p2121240.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unveiling living dead: characteristics and consequences of zombie firms

Author

Listed:
  • Sadia Rashid
  • Kanwal Iqbal Khan
  • Adeel Nasir
  • Tayyiba Rashid

Abstract

The increasing number of zombies is becoming a thread for industrial growth due to their inefficiency and lack of performance. Previous studies show that zombies inhibit the growth of non-zombies and prevent the emergence of new ones. However, there is still a lack of research on the consequences of zombies on industrial growth. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the potential characteristics of the likelihood of zombie firms and analyze their impact on industrial growth. Data were extracted from publicly traded companies on the Pakistan Stock Exchange from 2009–2019. Results confirm the presence of zombie firms in the Pakistani context with low liquidity, low solvency, non-profitability, inefficiency, and relatively younger. Moreover, the findings demonstrated a negative link between zombie firms and industrial growth. It states zombie enterprises negatively impact industrial growth as high industrial indebtedness decreases the chances of industrial growth. These findings may be helpful to policymakers when developing insolvency rules to ensure a stable environment for industrial growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Sadia Rashid & Kanwal Iqbal Khan & Adeel Nasir & Tayyiba Rashid, 2022. "Unveiling living dead: characteristics and consequences of zombie firms," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 2121240-212, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:oabmxx:v:9:y:2022:i:1:p:2121240
    DOI: 10.1080/23311975.2022.2121240
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/23311975.2022.2121240
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1080/23311975.2022.2121240?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Khan, Muhammad Salman & Khan, Kanwal Iqbal & Mahmood, Shahid & Sheeraz, Muhammad, 2019. "Symmetric and Asymmetric Volatility Clustering Via GARCH Family Models: An Evidence from Religion Dominant Countries," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 13(1), pages 20-25.
    3. Shin‐ichi Fukuda & Jun‐ichi Nakamura, 2011. "Why Did ‘Zombie’ Firms Recover in Japan?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34, pages 1124-1137, July.
    4. repec:uts:ppaper:v:21:y:2005:i:1:p:93-105 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Carlos Carreira & Paulino Teixeira & Ernesto Nieto-Carrillo, 2022. "Recovery and exit of zombie firms in Portugal," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 491-519, August.
    6. Cheng Hsiao, 2007. "Panel data analysis—advantages and challenges," TEST: An Official Journal of the Spanish Society of Statistics and Operations Research, Springer;Sociedad de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, vol. 16(1), pages 1-22, May.
    7. He Zhu & Fan He & Shennan Wang & Qianlin Ye & Chen Liang, 2019. "Zombie Firms and Debt Accumulation: A Theoretical Framework and Chinese Experience," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 27(6), pages 104-126, November.
    8. Qiao, Lu & Fei, Junjun, 2022. "Government subsidies, enterprise operating efficiency, and “stiff but deathless” zombie firms," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    9. Ryan Niladri Banerjee & Boris Hofmann, 2018. "The rise of zombie firms: causes and consequences," BIS Quarterly Review, Bank for International Settlements, September.
    10. Fabiano Schivardi & Enrico Sette & Guido Tabellini, 2020. "Identifying the Real Effects of Zombie Lending," The Review of Corporate Finance Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 9(3), pages 569-592.
    11. Horrace, William C. & Oaxaca, Ronald L., 2006. "Results on the bias and inconsistency of ordinary least squares for the linear probability model," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 90(3), pages 321-327, March.
    12. Hyeog Ug Kwon & Futoshi Narita & Machiko Narita, 2015. "Resource Reallocation and Zombie Lending in Japan in the 1990s," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 18(4), pages 709-732, October.
    13. Urionabarrenetxea, Sara & Garcia-Merino, Jose Domingo & San-Jose, Leire & Retolaza, Jose Luis, 2018. "Living with zombie companies: Do we know where the threat lies?," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 408-420.
    14. Müge Adalet McGowan & Dan Andrews & Valentine Millot & Thorsten BeckManaging Editor, 2018. "The walking dead? Zombie firms and productivity performance in OECD countries," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 33(96), pages 685-736.
    15. Imai, Kentaro, 2016. "A panel study of zombie SMEs in Japan: Identification, borrowing and investment behavior," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 91-107.
    16. Cecilia Dassatti & Francesc Rodriguez-Tous & Rodrigo Lluberas, 2020. "Zombie lending: how many wondering souls are there?," Documentos de trabajo 2020003, Banco Central del Uruguay.
    17. Kanwal Iqbal Khan & Faisal Qadeer & Mário Nuno Mata & Rui Miguel Dantas & João Xavier Rita & Jéssica Nunes Martins, 2021. "Debt Market Trends and Predictors of Specialization: An Analysis of Pakistani Corporate Sector," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-16, May.
    18. Takeo Hoshi, 2006. "Economics Of The Living Dead," The Japanese Economic Review, Japanese Economic Association, vol. 57(1), pages 30-49, March.
    19. Duc Cuong Pham & Thi Ngoc Anh Do & Thanh Nga Doan & Thi Xuan Hong Nguyen & Thi Kim Yen Pham, 2021. "The impact of sustainability practices on financial performance: empirical evidence from Sweden," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 1912526-191, January.
    20. Viral V. Acharya & Matteo Crosignani & Tim Eisert & Sascha Steffen, 2022. "Zombie Lending: Theoretical, International, and Historical Perspectives," Annual Review of Financial Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 14(1), pages 21-38, November.
    21. Clausing, Kimberly A., 2013. "Who Pays the Corporate Tax in a Global Economy?," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 66(1), pages 151-184, March.
    22. Ricardo J. Caballero & Takeo Hoshi & Anil K. Kashyap, 2008. "Zombie Lending and Depressed Restructuring in Japan," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(5), pages 1943-1977, December.
    23. Kanwal Iqbal Khan & Faisal Qadeer & Mário Nuno Mata & José Chavaglia Neto & Qurat ul An Sabir & Jéssica Nunes Martins & José António Filipe, 2021. "Core Predictors of Debt Specialization: A New Insight to Optimal Capital Structure," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-25, April.
    24. Yuyaun Tan & Yiping Huang & Wing Thye Woo, 2016. "Zombie Firms and the Crowding-Out of Private Investment in China," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 15(3), pages 32-55, Fall.
    25. John Paul Broussard & David Michayluk & Walter P. Neely, 2005. "The Role of Growth in Long Term Investment Returns," Published Paper Series 2005-3, Finance Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology, Sydney.
    26. Ivana Blažková & Ondřej Dvouletý, 2022. "Zombies: Who are they and how do firms become zombies?," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 60(1), pages 119-145, January.
    27. Ahmad Ahmad & Adel Bino & Mohammad Tayeh, 2021. "Has the current global financial crisis significantly affected momentum profitability?," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 1932238-193, January.
    28. Timothy Grieder & Juan Ortega, 2020. "A Financial Stability Analysis of Zombie Firms in Canada," Staff Analytical Notes 2020-3, Bank of Canada.
    29. Yonas Nigussie Isayas, 2021. "Financial distress and its determinants: Evidence from insurance companies in Ethiopia," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 1951110-195, January.
    30. repec:bla:jfinan:v:59:y:2004:i:3:p:1345-1365 is not listed on IDEAS
    31. David J. Denis & Stephen B. McKeon, 2012. "Debt Financing and Financial Flexibility Evidence from Proactive Leverage Increases," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 25(6), pages 1897-1929.
    32. Goto, Yasuo & Wilbur, Scott, 2019. "Unfinished business: Zombie firms among SME in Japan’s lost decades," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 105-112.
    33. Cheng Hsiao, 2007. "Rejoinder on: Panel data analysis—advantages and challenges," TEST: An Official Journal of the Spanish Society of Statistics and Operations Research, Springer;Sociedad de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, vol. 16(1), pages 56-57, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. Leire San-Jose & Sara Urionabarrenetxea & Jose-Domingo García-Merino, 2022. "Zombie firms and corporate governance: What room for maneuver do companies have to avoid becoming zombies?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 835-862, April.
    3. 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.
    4. Goto, Yasuo & Wilbur, Scott, 2019. "Unfinished business: Zombie firms among SME in Japan’s lost decades," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 105-112.
    5. Feng, Ling & Lang, Henan & Pei, Tingting, 2022. "Zombie firms and corporate savings: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 551-564.
    6. Kotone Yamada & Yukio Minoura & Jouchi Nakajima & Tomoyuki Yagi, 2023. "Corporate Finance Facility and Resource Allocation: Research Trends and Developments during the Spread of COVID-19," Bank of Japan Working Paper Series 23-E-1, Bank of Japan.
    7. Shaozhen Han & Guoming Li & Michel Lubrano & Zhou Xun, 2020. "Lie of the Weak: Inconsistent Corporate Social Responsibility Activities of Chinese Zombie Firms," AMSE Working Papers 2001, Aix-Marseille School of Economics, France.
    8. Dai, Xiaoyong & Qiao, Xiaole & Song, Lin, 2019. "Zombie firms in China's coal mining sector: Identification, transition determinants and policy implications," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 664-673.
    9. Wang, Changrong & Richardson, Grant & Cao, Yanming, 2024. "Long live the walking dead? Corporate tax avoidance and zombie firms in China," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(3).
    10. Edward I. Altman & Rui Dai & Wei Wang, 2024. "Global zombie companies: measurements, determinants, and outcomes," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 55(6), pages 723-744, August.
    11. 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.
    12. Tan, Ruipeng & Zhu, Wenjun & Pan, Lulu & Wu, Huaqing, 2024. "Short selling and de-zombification: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PB), pages 86-102.
    13. Qiao, Lu & Fei, Junjun, 2022. "Government subsidies, enterprise operating efficiency, and “stiff but deathless” zombie firms," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    14. GOTO Yasuo & Scott WILBUR, 2017. "Efficiency among Japanese SMEs: In the context of the zombie firm hypothesis and firm size," Discussion papers 17123, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    15. Ren, Meixu & Zhao, Jinxuan & Zhao, Jingmei, 2023. "The crowding-out effect of zombie companies on fixed asset investment: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    16. Li, Jie & Guo, Xiaowei & Huang, Bihong & Zhou, Tianhang, 2024. "Political connections and zombie firms: The role of the 2008 stimulus plan in China," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    17. Marian Nehrebecki, 2023. "Zombification in Poland in particular during COVID-19 pandemic and low interest rates," Bank i Kredyt, Narodowy Bank Polski, vol. 54(2), pages 153-190.
    18. Gee Hee HONG & ITO Arata & SAITO Yukiko & Thi-Ngoc Anh NGUYEN, 2020. "Structural Changes in Japanese SMEs: Business Dynamism in Aging Society and Inter-Firm Transaction Network," Policy Discussion Papers 20003, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    19. Mingarelli, Luca & Ravanetti, Beatrice & Shakir, Tamarah & Wendelborn, Jonas, 2022. "Dawn of the (half) dead: the twisted world of zombie identification," Working Paper Series 2743, European Central Bank.
    20. Yu, Miao & Guo, Yue Mei & Wang, Di & Gao, Xiaohan, 2021. "How do zombie firms affect debt financing costs of others: From spillover effects views," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:taf:oabmxx:v:9:y:2022:i:1:p:2121240. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://cogentoa.tandfonline.com/OABM20 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.