Oil price collapse and firm leverage in resource-dependent countries
Kurronen, Sanna (26.04.2018)
Numero
10/2018Julkaisija
Bank of Finland
2018
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:bof-201805031468Tiivistelmä
This study examines the financial channel between oil price volatility and the resource curse using firm-level data. A collapse in oil prices adversely affects firm borrowing in resource-dependent countries. However, unlike in non-resource-dependent countries where just the resource sector is harmed, both resource and non-resource firms are affected in resource-dependent countries in an oil price collapse. We also find evidence of a flight to quality in lending, implying that the decline in leverage can partly be attributed to a reduction in the credit supply. Our results suggest that oil price volatility operates via the financial channel to impede economic diversification in resource-dependent countries.