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Capital Structure Under Collusion

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  • Daniel Ferrés
  • Gaizka Ormazabal
  • Paul Povel
  • Giorgo Sertsios

Abstract

We study the financial leverage of firms that collude by forming a cartel. We find that cartel firms have lower leverage ratios during collusion periods, consistent with the idea that reductions in leverage help increase cartel stability. Cartel firms have a surprisingly large economic footprint (they represent more than 20% of the total market capitalization in the U.S.), so understanding their decisions is relevant. Our findings show that anti-competitive behavior has a significant effect on capital structure choices. They also shed new light on the relation between profitability and financial leverage.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Ferrés & Gaizka Ormazabal & Paul Povel & Giorgo Sertsios, 2016. "Capital Structure Under Collusion," Documentos de Trabajo/Working Papers 1608, Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales y Economia. Universidad de Montevideo..
    • Handle: RePEc:mnt:wpaper:1608
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capital Structure; Financial Leverage; Financial Policies; Collusion; Cartels; Trigger Strategies;
    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
    • L12 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies

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