Liquidity Shocks and Firm Exports: Evidence from Cash Shortages during India's Demonetization
This paper examines how liquidity shocks caused by currency shortages impact exports. We explore this in the context of India’s 2016 currency demonetization, a sudden government policy announcement that led to 86% of the country’s currency in circulation being rendered illegal within hours. Our analysis uses novel data, including high-frequency customs transaction records matched with exporting firms and their balance sheets, as well as with inter-district domestic trade. While the cash shortages do not directly affect exporting firms, we find a significant and immediate decline in real exports for firms whose domestic customers experience liquidity shocks.
More from NBER
In addition to working papers, the NBER disseminates affiliates’ latest findings through a range of free periodicals — the NBER Reporter, the NBER Digest, the Bulletin on Retirement and Disability, the Bulletin on Health, and the Bulletin on Entrepreneurship — as well as online conference reports, video lectures, and interviews.
