Uncovering Financial Constraints
74 Pages Posted: 2 May 2019 Last revised: 16 Apr 2020
Date Written: April 19, 2019
Abstract
We classify firms’ financial constraints using a random forest model trained on the Hoberg and Maksimovic (2015) text-based constraint measures. Our model uses only financial variables to predict constraints, allowing us to significantly expand the cross- section and time-series of classified firms compared to the text-based measures. We conduct a number of tests to validate the informativeness of our measures. Using our classifications, we provide evidence that returns of debt (equity) constrained firms are more sensitive to shocks to the cost of equity (debt) financing. The results highlight the importance of financial flexibility in determining a firm’s exposure to financing shocks.
Keywords: financial constraints, machine learning, random forests, financial flexibility
JEL Classification: G00, G30, G35, G1, G3
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