IMF Working Papers

Corporate Sector Vulnerabilities in Ireland

Author/Editor:

Nir Klein

Publication Date:

November 8, 2016

Electronic Access:

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Summary:

The paper uses both macro- and micro-level data to assess how has the financial health of the Irish non-financial corporate (NFC) sector changed in the post financial crisis period. The analysis suggests that vulnerabilities have generally declined in recent years, but the NFC sector and especially smaller domestic firms remain vulnerable. A sensitivity analysis indicates that a non-extreme shock, which comprises a decline in profitability and an increase in interest rates, is likely to push many firms into a vulnerable state and that the share of firms with interest cover ratio of lower than one would triple to nearly fifty percent, largely reflecting the deterioration in the financial health of small firms. In such a scenario, the share of risky debt would increase to the level observed during the financial crisis, resulting in a significant increase in new corporate defaults.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2016/211

Subject:

Bank credit Banking Corporate sector Economic sectors Financial crises Financial institutions Foreign corporations Loans Money