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Empirical research on corporate credit-ratings: A literature review

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  • Matthies, Alexander B.

Abstract

We report on the current state and important older findings of empirical studies on corporate credit ratings and their relationship to ratings of other entities. Specifically, we consider the results of three lines of research: The correlation of credit ratings and corporate default, the influence of ratings on capital markets, and the determinants of credit ratings and rating changes. Results from each individual line are important and relevant for the construction and interpretation of studies in the other two fields, e.g. the choice of statistical methods. Moreover, design and construct of credit ratings and the credit rating scale are essential to understand empirical findings.

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  • Matthies, Alexander B., 2013. "Empirical research on corporate credit-ratings: A literature review," SFB 649 Discussion Papers 2013-003, Humboldt University Berlin, Collaborative Research Center 649: Economic Risk.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:sfb649:sfb649dp2013-003
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    Cited by:

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    2. Abidi, Nordine & Falagiarda, Matteo & Miquel-Flores, Ixart, 2023. "Quantitative easing and credit rating agencies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    3. Patrycja Chodnicka-Jaworska, 2018. "Banks credit ratings – is the size of the credit rating agency important?," Faculty of Management Working Paper Series 32018, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management.
    4. Helmut Wasserbacher & Martin Spindler, 2024. "Credit Ratings: Heterogeneous Effect on Capital Structure," Papers 2406.18936, arXiv.org.
    5. Poeschel, Friedrich, 2012. "Assortative matching through signals," VfS Annual Conference 2012 (Goettingen): New Approaches and Challenges for the Labor Market of the 21st Century 62061, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    6. AlHares, Aws & Ntim, Collins, 2017. "A Cross- country study of the effect of institutional ownership on credit ratings," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 12(4), pages 80-99.
    7. Jaspreet Kaur & Madhu Vij & Ajay Kumar Chauhan, 2023. "Signals influencing corporate credit ratings—a systematic literature review," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 50(1), pages 91-114, March.
    8. Faiza Sajjad & Muhammad Zakaria, 2018. "Credit Rating as a Mechanism for Capital Structure Optimization: Empirical Evidence from Panel Data Analysis," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-14, January.
    9. Dang, Man & Puwanenthiren, Premkanth & Jones, Edward & Nguyen, Thieu Quang & Vo, Xuan Vinh & Nadarajah, Sivathaasan, 2022. "Strategic archetypes, credit ratings, and cost of debt," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    10. Abad, Pilar & Ferreras, Rodrigo & Robles, M.-Dolores, 2020. "Information opacity and corporate bond returns: The dynamics of split ratings," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    11. Patrycja Chodnicka-Jaworska, 2021. "ESG as a Measure of Credit Ratings," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-26, December.
    12. Zhu, Zongyuan, 2018. "Safety promise, moral hazard and financial supervision: Evidence from peer-to-peer lending," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 1-5.
    13. Elif Korkmaz & Ersin Firat Akg¨¹l & Secil Sigali, 2017. "Determinants of Credit Rating Actions: Evidence from International Maritime Companies," Business and Management Horizons, Macrothink Institute, vol. 5(2), pages 60-83, December.
    14. Baker, H. Kent & Dutta, Shantanu & Saadi, Samir & Zhong, Ligang, 2022. "Does media coverage affect credit rating change decisions?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    rating agency; credit ratings; through-the-cycle rating methodology; corporate governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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