Cash Is Not Always King: Economic Policy Uncertainty and the Marginal Value of Corporate Cash Holdings

Abstract

This paper studies the relation between economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and the marginal value of corporate cash holdings. We find that the markets place a lower value on firms’ cash holdings under high level of EPU. Our quasi-experiment tests relating to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the gubernatorial elections support the causal relationship between EPU and the value of cash holdings. Further, we show that this relation is more pronounced for firms with less redeployable capital assets, more investment opportunities, poor corporate governance, or positive excess cash. Overall, our evidence suggests that cash is not always king especially in periods of high uncertainty of policies.