Estimation results
Table 7 summarises the results. We use a fixed- effect model according to the Housman test. Results are consistent for all cases.
Leverages are positively related to investment before the crisis, as expected. Firms with less tangible fixed assets tend to increase investment more actively. Coefficients of current return on assets are negatively related to investment. This probably means a continuous increasing rate of return on future investment in the booming economy. The lower the current rate of return on assets, the higher the return on investment, so that firms with a lower current rate of return invest more actively. Consider¬ing the appropriateness of the chosen proxy variable for return on investment, we also used ROAt-1 instead of ROAt, but the sign remained negative.
There is a sharp contrast between before and after the crisis. After the crisis, debt ratio coef-ficients are negative. We can understand that firms with a high debt ratio suffered more during the period of economic distress.