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Does export intensity affect corporate leverage? Evidence from Portuguese SMEs

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  • Pinto, João M.
  • Silva, Cátia S.

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of export intensity on a firm's capital structure using a sample of 7,676 Portuguese SMEs. Results obtained from a system GMM estimation method show that the leverage ratio is negatively affected by export intensity. We document that firms with more growth opportunities have a higher leverage, while firms that have more profits, higher asset tangibility and face higher business risk have lower debt ratios. Our results also show that the implementation of governmental mechanisms that support export firms’ borrowing activities are critical in economies facing a financial crisis.

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  • Pinto, João M. & Silva, Cátia S., 2021. "Does export intensity affect corporate leverage? Evidence from Portuguese SMEs," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:38:y:2021:i:c:s1544612319302739
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2019.101418
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    Cited by:

    1. Mojdeh , Zahra & Tehranchian , Amir Mansour & Jafari Samimi , Ahmad & Rasekhi , Saeed, 2020. "Analyzing the Impact of Leverage Rate on Export Survival: The Case of Iranian Firms," Journal of Money and Economy, Monetary and Banking Research Institute, Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran, vol. 15(1), pages 25-34, January.
    2. Ersin İnal & Bahadır Ergün, 2022. "The Role of Exporting on Capital Structure: A Firm-Level Investigation," Journal of Research in Economics, Politics & Finance, Ersan ERSOY, vol. 7(2), pages 316-333.
    3. Imran Ramzan & Ömer Lütfi Gebizlioglu, 2023. "Does export intensity of heterogeneous firms affect leverage? Evidence from a small open economy," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 12(4), pages 356-365.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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