The trade-off argument postulates that firms set their optimal level of cash holdings
by weighting the marginal costs and marginal benefits of holding cash. There are
several benefits related with holding cash. First, cash holdings reduce the likelihood of
financial distress as it acts as a safety reserve to face unexpected losses or external
fund raising constrains. Second, cash holdings allow the pursuance of the optimal
investment policy even when financial constraints are met. Otherwise, external fund
raising constrains would force the firm to forgo investment projects with positive net
present value (NPV).2 Finally, cash holdings contribute to minimise the costs of
raising external funds or liquidating existing assets as it acts like a buffer between
the firm sources and uses of funds. The traditional marginal cost of holding cash is the
opportunity cost of the capital due to the low return on liquid assets. Below we
provide a brief review of the firm characteristics that, according to trade-off theory,
are relevant to firm cash holdings decisions.