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The impact of COVID-19 economic crisis on the speed of adjustment toward target leverage ratio: An international analysis

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  • Vo, Thuy Anh
  • Mazur, Mieszko
  • Thai, An

Abstract

This paper investigates changes in the speed of adjustment toward target leverage ratio under the impact of COVID-19 economic crisis. Using an international sample of publicly listed firms, we find that, on average, firms tend to adjust their capital structure more rapidly in the period following the breakout of COVID-19. Furthermore, we find that firms domiciled in countries in which COVID-19 causes more severe damage, adjust their target leverage quicker than firms domiciled in less severely affected countries. Overall, our study aims at developing a better understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on corporate financing decisions.

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  • Vo, Thuy Anh & Mazur, Mieszko & Thai, An, 2022. "The impact of COVID-19 economic crisis on the speed of adjustment toward target leverage ratio: An international analysis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:45:y:2022:i:c:s1544612321002361
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2021.102157
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    1. Vitor Amado de Oliveira Bobel & Tiago F. A. C. Sigahi & Izabela Simon Rampasso & Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de Moraes & Lucas Veiga Ávila & Walter Leal Filho & Rosley Anholon, 2022. "Analysis of the Level of Adoption of Business Continuity Practices by Brazilian Industries: An Exploratory Study Using Fuzzy TOPSIS," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(21), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Thng Peck-Ern Casandra & Wei-Theng Lau, 2023. "Corporate Leverage Decisions in Malaysian Property Sector: Before and During Pandemic," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(12), pages 1719-1733, December.
    3. Kim, Tae-Nyun & Xie, Yutong, 2023. "Off-balance sheet disclosure and leverage adjustment speed," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).

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