A Model of Market Discipline

Abstract

We develop an equilibrium model where cash holdings, costly refinancing policies, and managerial incentives are jointly determined to quantify the market's influence on management's ex ante behavior. We also derive a general formula that shows how agency and financing distortions shape payouts and compensation, two easily measured quantities. Our calibrated model estimates agency conflicts are nearly 10 times more severe than financial frictions for US public firms. Our analysis suggests that cutting corporate income taxes while introducing a tax on refinancing can reduce the relative severity of agency.