The Pecking Order, Debt Capacity, and Information Asymmetry

57 Pages Posted: 9 Jun 2004

See all articles by Mark T. Leary

Mark T. Leary

Washington University in St. Louis - Olin Business School; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Michael R. Roberts

The Wharton School - University of Pennsylvania; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: December 18, 2008

Abstract

We quantify the empirical relevance of the pecking order hypothesis using a novel empirical model and testing strategy that addresses statistical power concerns with previous tests. While the classificatory ability of the pecking order varies significantly depending on whether one interprets the hypothesis in a strict or liberal (e.g., "modified" pecking order) manner, the pecking order is never able to accurately classify more than half of the observed financing decisions. However, when we expand the model to incorporate factors typically attributed to alternative theories, the predictive accuracy of the model increases dramatically --- accurately classifying over 80% of the observed debt and equity issuances. Finally, we show that what little pecking order behavior can be found in the data is driven more by incentive conflicts, as opposed to information asymmetry.

Keywords: Capital Structure, Pecking Order, Information Asymmetry, Debt Capacity

JEL Classification: G32, G31, G35

Suggested Citation

Leary, Mark T. and Roberts, Michael R., The Pecking Order, Debt Capacity, and Information Asymmetry (December 18, 2008). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=555805 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.555805

Mark T. Leary (Contact Author)

Washington University in St. Louis - Olin Business School ( email )

One Brookings Drive
Campus Box 1133
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

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Cambridge, MA 02138
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Michael R. Roberts

The Wharton School - University of Pennsylvania; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

3620 Locust Walk, #2320
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6365
United States
(215) 573-9780 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://finance.wharton.upenn.edu/~mrrobert/

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