Working Paper

Long-Term Finance and Investment with Frictional Asset Markets


Abstract: Trading frictions in financial markets affect more long- than short-term bonds generating an upward sloping yield curve. Long-term financing is more expensive in economies with higher trading frictions so firms choose to borrow and invest in shorter horizons and lower productivity projects. The theory guides a new identification of the slope of liquidity spread in the data. We measure and calibrate the model for the US, and counterfactual exercises suggest that variations in trading frictions can have significant effects on maturity choices and investment. A policy intervention improves liquidity, reduce long-term financial costs and promotes investment in longer-term projects.

Keywords: Debt maturity; Over-the-counter market; Liquidity; Secondary markets;

JEL Classification: E44; G30; O16;

https://doi.org/10.20955/wp.2018.012

Status: Published in American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics

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Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Part of Series: Working Papers

Publication Date: 2017-12-29

Number: 2018-12

Note: Publisher DOI: 10.1257/mac.20190353