Abstract

Using large panel data of public and private firms, this paper dissects the aggregate growth of bond financing in the Euro Area. It considerably broadened firms' access to funding, but can also lead to new risks. The composition of bond issuers has shifted, with the entry of many smaller and riskier issuers in recent years. New issuers invest and grow, leading to higher leverage and interest rates. Moreover, holdings of stable `buy-and-hold' bond investors are large in aggregate but small for weaker issuers. Finally, the majority of firms downgraded in the 2020 crisis were small private firms that recently entered the bond market.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.