Optimal Leverage and Aggregate Investment

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Finance
Year: 1999
Volume: 54
Issue: 4
Pages: 1291-1323

Authors (2)

Bruno Biais (HEC Paris (École des Hautes Ét...) Catherine Casamatta (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We analyze the optimal financing of investment projects when managers must exert unobservable effort and can also switch to less profitable riskier ventures. Optimal financial contracts can be implemented by a combination of debt and equity when the risk‐shifting problem is the most severe while stock options are also needed when the effort problem is the most severe. Worsening of the moral hazard problems leads to decreases in investment and output at the macroeconomic level. Moreover, aggregate leverage decreases with the risk‐shifting problem and increases with the effort problem.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:jfinan:v:54:y:1999:i:4:p:1291-1323
Journal Field
Finance
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-24