Working Paper
An empirical analysis of bond recovery rates: exploring a structural view of default
Abstract: A frictionless, structural view of default has the unrealistic implication that recovery rates on bonds, measured at default, should be close to 100 percent. This suggests that standard \"frictions\" such as default delays, corporate-valuation jumps, and bankruptcy costs may be important drivers of recovery rates. A structural view also suggests the existence of nonlinearities in the empirical relationship between recovery rates and their determinants. We explore these implications empirically and find direct evidence of jumps, and also evidence of the predicted nonlinearities. In particular, recovery rates increase as economic conditions improve from low levels, but decrease as economic conditions become robust. This suggests that improving economic conditions tend to boost firm values, but firms may tend to default during particularly robust times only when they have experienced large, negative shocks.
Access Documents
File(s): File format is text/html http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/feds/2005/200510/200510abs.html
File(s): File format is application/pdf http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/feds/2005/200510/200510pap.pdf
Authors
Bibliographic Information
Provider: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.)
Part of Series: Finance and Economics Discussion Series
Publication Date: 2004
Number: 2005-10