Trade Credit and the Stability of Supply Chains

Authors

Nuri Ersahin, Southern Methodist University (SMU) - Finance DepartmentFollow
Mariassunta Giannetti, Stockholm School of Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI); Swedish House of FinanceFollow
Ruidi Huang, Southern Methodist University (SMU) - Finance DepartmentFollow

Publication Date

12-29-2023

Abstract

We show that trade credit flows increase when a firm in a production network becomes a less reliable supplier due to an operating shock. Affected firms extend more trade credit when their customers have lower switching costs or expect more disruption. Suppliers that are more dependent on the affected firms facilitate the trade credit extension. However, when financial constraints at the affected firms and their suppliers prevent the increase in trade credit, customers sever their relationships with the affected firms, and the sales of the affected firms and their suppliers drop, suggesting that trade credit enhances production network stability.

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Supply Chains, Operating Shocks, Production Networks, Trade Credit, Natural Disasters

Disciplines

Finance

DOI

10.2139/ssrn.3892852

Source

SMU Cox: Finance (Topic)

Language

English