Frederick M. Richardson

The Impact of Recession on the Prediction of Corporate Failure

In this paper, we hypothesize that recessionary business cycles can contribute to corporate failure. Specifically, we test for a relationship between failure and (1) knowledge that failure occurred during a recession and (2) knowledge that the predictor variables were measured during a recession. We are able to show that accounting-based logistic regression models used to predict corporate failure are sensitive to the occurrence of a recession. Furthermore, our results indicate that such models are sensitive to knowledge that the predictor variables were generated during a recession and to knowledge that failure ultimately occurred during a recession. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd 1998.

The Relationship between Changes in Fixed Plant Investment and the Likelihood of Emergence from Corporate Financial Distress

Companies experiencing financial distress can attempt to mitigate financial distress through changing the investment in the fixed asset base. Management may choose to expand the asset base in hopes of increasing sales. Alternatively, management may choose to contract the asset base in order to eliminate and/or reduce investment in unprofitable or risky ventures, improve liquidity, reduce earnings volatility, and reduce the need for operating capital.In this study, we examined how observed changes in the investment base affect the likelihood of emergence from a financially distressed condition. We find that, when management chooses to contract the investment in property, plant, and equipment, the likelihood of emergence from financial distress is significantly improved. On the other hand, when management chooses to expand property, plant, and equipment in the face of distress, the distress is only intensified. Our explanation is that companies that choose to contract their fixed asset base in times of trouble are taking steps that will most likely improve their financial condition—they are less likely to need working capital, and can better tolerate increased levels of long-term debt. Conversely, increasing the fixed asset base amplifies the need for working capital, and borrowing money to facilitate the expansion simply increases the necessary uses of that working capital because the debt must be serviced. As a result, companies descend even deeper into financial distress and decrease the likelihood that they will emerge therefrom.

Pseudo-programming (with macros) of accounting spreadsheets

Abstract For ease of use, transfer, and potential marketability, business software should be “userfriendly”. Lotus 1-2-3, the dominant electronic spreadsheet program in business, incorporates a pseudo-programming capability that allows tailoring spreadsheet applications accordingly. This article represents an introduction to the programming process. The process makes use of macros that accept user input and print out reports in pre-designed templates, and that can be linked together via a menu of desired applications.