Supply chain, product pricing, and dynamic capital structure

Abstract

This paper examines how firms' reliance on a supply chain affects their capital structure decisions via the suppliers' product pricing. In our model, a firms’ reliance on a supply chain results in either a risk-amplification effect or a hedge effect, depending on the direction and magnitude of product demand correlations between firms along the supply chain. The risk-amplification (hedge) effect leads firms to reduce (increase) their leverage, pay a higher (lower) interest rate for debt, and take a more conservative (aggressive) leverage adjustment policy. Our model further captures several supply-chain-specific phenomena such as the EBIT bullwhip, risk propagation, and the supplier-driven vertical spillover effect.