Financial mismatch on corporate debt default risk: Evidence from China

The continuous spread of debt default has caused huge losses for investors and the capital markets. Using data from Chinese A-share listed companies from between 2014 and 2021 as a sample, we study the impact of financial mismatches on corporate default risk and its mechanisms. We find that financial mismatching is significantly positively associated with default risk. A mechanism test reveals that financial mismatching aggravates corporate default risk by increasing inefficient investments. Further analysis shows that the positive association is more prominent in non-state-owned entities (SOEs) and firms with fewer government subsidies, lower profitability, and more financial constraints. We provide a reference for deepening supply-side structural reforms and preventing and resolving a major risk faced by firms.