Abstract
Literature streams disagree about the capacity of investment–cash flow
sensitivity (ICFS) to measure both investment thirst and financial constraint.
We argue that ICFS measures the former but not the latter. Therefore, we use
Fazzari et al.’s study (1988) to develop a model to test the relationship between
ICFS and financial constraint, but extend that model using Kornai (1979) to
include investment thirst. We demonstrate: because the ICFS–financial
constraint relationship varies, ICFS cannot measure financial constraint.
Conversely, using a natural experiment of China’s Four Trillion Stimulus
policy, we show ICFS significantly and positively correlates with investment
thirst after controlling for financial constraint.
sensitivity (ICFS) to measure both investment thirst and financial constraint.
We argue that ICFS measures the former but not the latter. Therefore, we use
Fazzari et al.’s study (1988) to develop a model to test the relationship between
ICFS and financial constraint, but extend that model using Kornai (1979) to
include investment thirst. We demonstrate: because the ICFS–financial
constraint relationship varies, ICFS cannot measure financial constraint.
Conversely, using a natural experiment of China’s Four Trillion Stimulus
policy, we show ICFS significantly and positively correlates with investment
thirst after controlling for financial constraint.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 165-197 |
| Number of pages | 33 |
| Journal | Accounting and Finance |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- investment–cash flow sensitivity
- financial constraint
- investment thirst
- overinvestment