Liquidity Crises and Corporate Cash Holdings in Chile
In: The developing economies: the journal of the Institute of Developing Economies, Tokyo, Japan, Band 50, Heft 4, S. 378-392
ISSN: 1746-1049
This paper addresses the heterogonous effects of adverse liquidity shocks on corporate cash holdings in an emerging market. We use a large panel dataset with quarterly financial information for Chilean firms during the period 1996–2009. We find three main results. First, liquidity crises have had a negative and economically significant effect on cash holdings, but mainly for small firms; medium‐sized and large firms have not been affected by liquidity crises. Second, liquidity crises reduce the ability of firms to adjust to optimal cash holdings. Finally, medium‐sized firms are less able to adjust cash holdings compared to small and large firms.