The interest rate and crédit channels in Belgium: an investigation with micro-level firm data

This paper investigates the effects of monetary policy on firms' investment behaviour through the interest rate and credit channels. The analysis relies on a comprehensive database of Belgian firms covering all sectors of economic activity and firms of all sizes. We proceed in two steps. First, we estimate a reduced-form investment equation derived from the neoclassical model, augmented by cash flow. This equation gives us the sensitivity of investment to the user cost, sales and cash flow. This allows us to assess the relative importance of the interest rate and credit channels. We simulate t... Mehr ...