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Labor Leverage, Firms Heterogeneous Sensitivities to the Business Cycle, and the Cross-Section of Returns

Author

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  • Boston University
  • Francois Gourio

Abstract

Corporate profits are volatile and highly procyclical in the aggregate, but there is substantial heterogeneity across firms in the extent of this procyclicality: I document that firms with lower productivity or higher book-to-market have more procyclical profits. A simple static profit maximization problem can rationalize this. Firms which have more procyclical profits should also have higher betas and expected returns. Estimating an asset pricing model with aggregate productivity and aggregate real wage as factors validates this prediction. This economic story helps account for the size and value premia, and yields rich empirical implications by linking firms' real and financial characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Boston University & Francois Gourio, 2008. "Labor Leverage, Firms Heterogeneous Sensitivities to the Business Cycle, and the Cross-Section of Returns," 2008 Meeting Papers 149, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed008:149
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    Cited by:

    1. Gourio, François, 2011. "Putty-clay technology and stock market volatility," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 117-131, March.
    2. Roberto Marfè, 2015. "Labor Rigidity and the Dynamics of the Value Premium," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 429, Collegio Carlo Alberto.
    3. Lukas Schmid & Joao Gomes, 2009. "Equilibrium Credit Spreads and the Macroeconomy," 2009 Meeting Papers 1109, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    4. Xiaolan Zhang, 2014. "Who Bears Firm-Level Risk? Implications for Cash Flow Volatility," 2014 Meeting Papers 184, Society for Economic Dynamics.

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