(Debt) Overhang: Evidence from Resource Extraction
利用资源开采企业的独特数据，研究债务过度负债对投资的实际影响，发现无担保的复垦负债会扭曲投资，而传统债务影响较小。
Abstract I study the empirical importance of debt overhang using a unique data set on resource extraction firms that provides ex ante measures of investment opportunities and important variation in terms of a firm’s obligations. In particular, unsecured reclamation liabilities create overhang that is costly to resolve and induces firms to forgo and postpone positive NPV investments. Traditional debt, in contrast, imposes few overhang-related investment distortions. These results show that (a) the overhang problem is potentially large and more broadly applies to firms’ nondebt liabilities and (b) overhang problems associated with traditional debt can be avoided through contracting and debt composition.