[en] This paper explores the connection between rising intangible capital and the secular upward trend in US corporate cash holdings. We calibrate a dynamic model with two productive assets, tangible and intangible capital, in which only tangible capital can serve as collateral. We highlight the following points: 1) a shift toward intangible capital shrinks firms' debt capacity and leads them to hold more cash; 2) the effect accounts for 3/4 of the observed trend in average cash ratios; 3) it also accounts for the upward trend of cash ratios in the cross-section of small and large firms and in the aggregate.
Disciplines :
Finance
Author, co-author :
Falato, A.; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Kadyrzhanova, D.; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Sim, J.; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
STERI, Roberto ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF) > Department of Finance (DF)
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Rising Intangible Capital, Shrinking Debt Capacity, and the US Corporate Savings Glut