LIQUIDITY AND THE CHOICE TO ABANDON PRODUCTION IN DECLINING INDUSTRIES

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Gary L. Caton ORCID logo

https://doi.org/10.22495/cocv5i1c3p2

Abstract

The study presents tests of several theoretical hypotheses that are potential determinants of the choice to abandon production in declining industries. A binary qualitative choice model of the abandonment decision is estimated. The probability of choosing abandonment is found to be positively related to the firm’s debt ratio, and negatively related to liquidity at the firm level, the level of efficiency of the operating unit, and uncertainty about liquidity at the operating unit level as measured by output and input price variability. Results are also presented for a multinomial choice model accounting for the full menu of capacity decisions open to the firm over time. The results are robust across all specifications as well as to alternative statistical assumptions.

Keywords: Capacity choice, Abandonment, Cash flow volatility, Liquidity, Efficiency

How to cite this paper: Caton, G. L. (2007). Liquidity and the choice to abandon production in declining industries. Corporate Ownership & Control, 5(1-3), 418-431. https://doi.org/10.22495/cocv5i1c3p2