← Search

Journal of Economic Literature Vol. 39 No. 4 2001

Financial Contracting

Oliver Hart

Harvard University and London School of Economics.

open access

Abstract

This paper discusses how economists' views of firms' financial structure decisions have evolved from treating firms' profitability as given; to acknowledging that managerial actions affect profitability; to recognizing that firm value depends on the allocation of decision or control rights. The paper argues that the decision or control rights approach is useful, even though it is at an early stage of development, and that the approach has some empirical content: it can throw light on the structure of venture capital contracts and the reasons for the diversity of claims.

DOI
10.1257/jel.39.4.1079
Volume
39
Issue
4
Pages
1079-1100
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref

Cite