Agency and optimal investment dynamics

Peter M. DeMarzo, Michael J. Fishman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

107 Scopus citations

Abstract

Agency problems limit firms' access to capital markets, curbing investment. Firms and investors seek contractual ways to mitigate these problems. What are the implications for investment? We present a theory of a firm's investment dynamics in the presence of agency problems and optimal long-term financial contracts. We derive results relating firms' investment decisions, current and past cash flows, firm size, capital structure, and dividends. Among the results, optimal investment is increasing in current and past cash flow; and optimal investment is positively serially correlated over time (after controlling for investment opportunities). These results hold for a range of agency problems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)151-188
Number of pages38
JournalReview of Financial Studies
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Economics and Econometrics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Agency and optimal investment dynamics'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this