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The Capital Structure through the Trade-Off Theory: Evidence from Tunisian Firm

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  • Tarek Ghazouani

    (Faculty of Law, Economics and Management of Jendouba, University of Jendouba, Tunisia)

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to study the capital structure of firms and the explanation of their behavior in the context of trade-off theory. It analyzes the determinants of capital structure of Tunisian firms through the existence or not of a dynamic model of adjustment to target leverage ratio. This validation leads to test two complementary successive models, the first is a static, while the second is a dynamic model that incorporates transaction costs variable to see how we can talk about a speed adjustment allowing firms to get closer to the target ratio. The results of the first model show that the profitability and asset structure are the main explanatory variables of the level of leverage of Tunisian firms. While for the dynamic model, the most remarkable result is manifested at the level of the adjustment costs that are relatively high which engendered a slow adjustment towards the optimal ratio.

Suggested Citation

  • Tarek Ghazouani, 2013. "The Capital Structure through the Trade-Off Theory: Evidence from Tunisian Firm," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 3(3), pages 625-636.
    • Handle: RePEc:eco:journ1:2013-03-7
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    6. Chaido Dritsak, 2015. "Box Jenkins Modeling of Greek Stock Prices Data," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 5(3), pages 740-747.
    7. Hanaa El-Habashy, 2018. "Determinants of Capital Structure within the Context of Corporate Governance in Egypt," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(8), pages 1-26, June.
    8. Strike Mbulawa & Nathan F. Okurut & Mogale Ntsosa & Narain Sinha, 2020. "Optimal Capital Structure and Speed of Adjustment under Hyperinflation and Dollarization," Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, Emerging Markets Forum, vol. 12(2), pages 158-177, May.
    9. Philippe Adair & Imène Berguiga, 2020. "Is Bank Loan Funding to SMEs in North Africa a Matter of Size?," Proceedings of Economics and Finance Conferences 10913130, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences.
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    13. Oyebola Fatima Etudaiye-Muhtar & Oyebola Fatima Etudaiye-Muhtar & Rubi Ahmad, 2015. "Empirical Evidence of Target Leverage, Adjustment Costs and Adjustment Speed of Non-Financial Firms in Selected African Countries," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 5(2), pages 482-488.
    14. David Haritone Shikumo & Oluoch Oluoch & Joshua Matanda Wepukhulu, 2020. "Effect of Short-Term Debt on Financial Growth of Non-Financial Firms Listed at Nairobi Securities Exchange," Papers 2011.03339, arXiv.org.
    15. Aleksandra Stoiljković & Slavica Tomić & Bojan Leković & Milenko Matić, 2022. "Determinants of Capital Structure: Empirical Evidence of Manufacturing Companies in the Republic of Serbia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capital structure; Trade-Off Theory; Static model; Dynamic model; Panel data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance

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