RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 The zero-debt puzzle in BRICS countries: Disentangling the financial flexibility and financial constraints hypotheses A1 Saona, Paolo A1 San Martin, Pablo A1 Vallelado González, Eleuterio K1 Sociedades - Deudas K1 Zero leverage K1 BRICS K1 Financial flexibility K1 Financial restrictions K1 Capital structure K1 Bivariate probit model K1 5303.01 Contabilidad Financiera AB This study analyzes the zero-debt decisions of BRICS firms using a bivariate probit model. The leading hypotheses are financial flexibility and financial constraints. On the demand-side, our findings reveal that managerial debt aversion, early lifecycle stage, growth opportunities, solvency, and concentrated ownership contribute to the lack of debt. Similarly, a country's institutional quality correlates with firms' debt-free status. On the supply-side, creditors fund companies with poor financial records in countries with robust markets and economic freedom. Financial flexibility and restrictions leading to zero debt are linked to firm and institutional characteristics in emerging countries. PB Elsevier SN 1566-0141 YR 2024 FD 2024 LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/68063 UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/68063 LA eng NO Emerging Markets Review, julio 2024, vol.61, 101163 NO Producción Científica DS UVaDOC RD 18-nov-2024