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Dynamic Coordination and Bankruptcy Regulations

Hongda Zhong1; Zhen Zhou2

1 University of Texas at Dallas, United States, CEPR, United Kingdom, and FTG , · 2 PBC School of Finance, Tsinghua University

Review of Financial Studies 2026

Abstract Many regulations aim to promote coordination among creditors in bankruptcy by ex post restricting their ability to exit distressed firms. However, such restrictions may harm creditors’ ex ante incentives to stay invested, thereby worsening coordination outcomes. We build a dynamic coordination model to show how this force shapes creditor runs, bankruptcy filings, and regulation designs. Intriguingly, filing for bankruptcy early, thereby preserving more assets for latecomers, can prolong firm life. Furthermore, regulators’ clawbacks on prebankruptcy repayments can be superior to firms’ commitment to early bankruptcy filing. Our analysis generates implications for automatic stay, avoidable preference, bank failures, and seniority structure.

DOI
10.1093/rfs/hhaf039
Volume
39 (4)
Pages
1116-1176
Language
en
Export
BibTeX
Sources
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