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Loan financing and investment in princeling-backed firms

Author

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  • Li, Qing
  • Liu, Qigui
  • Ma, Shiguang
  • Tian, Gary Gang

Abstract

This study investigates the role of princelings in Chinese listed firms. Our findings suggest that princelings ensure better access to bank loans for non-SOEs but bring no significant benefits to SOEs. Our empirical results further indicate that bank lending decisions are distorted for princeling-backed firms due to the privileges and protections they can obtain from the higher levels of the government through princelings' family ties. Moreover, we find that, due to excess long-term bank loans, princeling-backed non-SOEs tend to overinvest, which ultimately results in lower investment efficiency. Furthermore, we use the difference-in-difference method to capture the effect of the exogenous shock of the recent anti-corruption campaign in China on princelings and corporate finance and investment. We demonstrate that the anti-corruption campaign launched by the Chinese government in 2012 effectively weakened the power of princeling connections. Overall, our study suggests that by distorting bank lending decisions and encouraging overinvestment, the involvement of princelings in firms causes resource misallocation which favours princeling-backed firms and discourages investment in non-princeling-backed firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Qing & Liu, Qigui & Ma, Shiguang & Tian, Gary Gang, 2019. "Loan financing and investment in princeling-backed firms," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 71-92.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:56:y:2019:i:c:p:71-92
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2019.05.009
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    3. Xiaoxu Ling & Siyuan Yan & Louis T. W. Cheng, 2022. "Investor relations under short‐selling pressure: Evidence from strategic signaling by company site visits," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(7-8), pages 1145-1174, July.
    4. Ding, Haoyuan & Hu, Yichuan & Kim, Kenneth A. & Xie, Mi, 2023. "Relationship-based debt financing of Chinese private sector firms: The role of social connections to banks versus political connections," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    5. Yuanyue Wang & Zhaohui Yu & Xiaojing Yi, 2022. "Financing liabilities and inefficient investment of listed companies: Based on the adjustment effect of different financial structures," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(4), pages 848-875, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Princelings; Princeling-backed firms; Political connections; Bank loans; Investment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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