Name File Type Size Last Modified
  AEJMicro-20090019_data 12/07/2019 03:16:PM
LICENSE.txt text/plain 14.6 KB 12/07/2019 10:16:AM

Project Citation: 

Matsa, David A. Replication data for: Running on Empty? Financial Leverage and Product Quality in the Supermarket Industry. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2011. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2019-12-07. https://doi.org/10.3886/E116439V1

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary This paper examines whether debt financing can undermine a supermarket firm's incentive to provide product quality. In the supermarket industry, product availability is an important measure of a retailer's quality. Using US consumer price index microdata to track inventory shortfalls, I find that taking on high financial leverage increases shortfalls. Highly leveraged firms appear to be degrading their products' quality in order to preserve current cash flow for debt service. Although reducing quality can erode both current sales and customer loyalty, firms appear to be willing to risk these outcomes in order to achieve benefits associated with debt finance. (JEL D92, G31, G32, L15, L81)

Scope of Project

JEL Classification:  View help for JEL Classification
      D25 Intertemporal Firm Choice: Investment, Capacity, and Financing
      G31 Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies; Capacity
      G32 Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
      L15 Information and Product Quality; Standardization and Compatibility
      L81 Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce


Related Publications

Published Versions

Export Metadata

Report a Problem

Found a serious problem with the data, such as disclosure risk or copyrighted content? Let us know.

This material is distributed exactly as it arrived from the data depositor. ICPSR has not checked or processed this material. Users should consult the investigator(s) if further information is desired.