This dissertation is made of three distinct chapters. The first chapter examines the causal link between banks’ syndicated loan supply and non-financial firms’ campaign contributions for US elections during the 2007-2008 financial crisis. The results indicate that a 10% decrease in loan supply of a given firm by its pre-crisis relationship lenders during the early crisis period leads to a 9% increase in firm’s campaign contributions in 2008. Further, firms’ level of past campaign contributions is positively associated with favorable loan terms for the future. The findings lend support to the idea that campaign contributions are an investment in political capital rather than merely a form of consumption good. The second chapter identifies th...