If Investors' Aversion to Risk Rose, Causing the Slope of the SML

question 78

True/False

If investors' aversion to risk rose, causing the slope of the SML to increase, this would have a greater impact on the required rate of return on equity, r_s, than on the interest rate on long-term debt, r_d, for most firms.Other things held constant, this would lead to an increase in the use of debt and a decrease in the use of equity.However, other things would not stay constant if firms used a lot more debt, as that would increase the riskiness of both debt and equity and thus limit the shift toward debt.

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Definitions:

Reward Power

The capacity to influence others' behavior by controlling access to desired resources or outcomes.

Referent Power

A form of influence and authority derived from the charisma and interpersonal relationships of the power-holder, rather than formal positions.

Coercive Power

Refers to the ability of a person or group to enforce obedience from others through threats, punishment, or sanctions.

Legitimate Power

Authority that is accepted and recognized as rightfully held by an individual or organization, often through a formal position or role.