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Economic policy uncertainty nexus with corporate risk-taking: The role of state ownership and corruption expenditure

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  • Zhang, Weike
  • Zhang, Xueyuan
  • Tian, Xiaoli
  • Sun, Fengwei

Abstract

This study investigates the role of state ownership and corruption expenditure in the relationship between economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and corporate risk-taking. The finding shows that EPU is significantly positively correlated with corporate risk-taking in China. The state ownership affects the link between EPU and corporate risk-taking, and SOEs are more willing to avoid risks in response to the increases of EPU. Corruption expenditure positively affects the relationship between EPU and corporate risk-taking. Compared with SOEs, non-SOEs have more incentive to respond to an increase of EPU through corruption expenditure. Moreover, China's anti-corruption campaign strongly affects the above effects. Our results are robust to alternative variable measures and endogeneity tests.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Weike & Zhang, Xueyuan & Tian, Xiaoli & Sun, Fengwei, 2021. "Economic policy uncertainty nexus with corporate risk-taking: The role of state ownership and corruption expenditure," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:65:y:2021:i:c:s0927538x21000032
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2021.101496
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