Debt policy, corporate taxes, and discount rates

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Theory
Year: 2008
Volume: 141
Issue: 1
Pages: 225-254

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

This paper applies the standard risk-neutral valuation framework to tax shields generated by dynamic debt policies. We derive a partial differential equation (PDE) for the value of the debt tax shield. For a class of dynamic debt policies that depend on the asset's free cash flows, value, and past performance, we obtain closed-form solutions for the PDE. We also derive the tax-adjusted cost of capital for free cash flows and analyze the conditions under which the weighted average cost of capital is an appropriate discount rate. Finally, we derive closed-form solutions for equity betas, which differ from the formulas that have traditionally been used to lever and unlever equity betas.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jetheo:v:141:y:2008:i:1:p:225-254
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25