Abstract
- Contrary to the findings of prior research that focuses on private loans and bank debt, we find that greater CEO social capital is positively associated with a firm’s cost of public debt. This effect is particularly pronounced for firms in financial distress and firms with a higher probability of default that increase dividends. Examining the channel, we demonstrate that social capital is associated with a reduced use of restrictive covenants, which subsequently amplifies the firm’s cost of debt. Collectively, the results support the risk-shifting perspective as a plausible mechanism. Our findings remain robust when considering alternative proxies for social capital, alternative model specifications, and tests for endogeneity.