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Cross-country variations in capital structure adjustment—The role of credit ratings

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  • Huang, Yu-Li
  • Shen, Chung-Hua

Abstract

This paper investigates how cross-country variations in institutional variables affect the relationship between rating changes and firms' capital structure adjustment. Our results demonstrate first that the asymmetric effect exists, that is, firms adjust their capital structure when ratings are downgraded, but do not significantly adjust their leverage ratios when ratings are upgraded. Second, capital structure adjusts faster in countries with better financial development and strong legal and institutional environments than in weak ones, regardless of the upgraded and downgraded rating changes. Hence, the financial development and legal and institutional environments are more crucial in affecting the leverage ratio adjustments than the rating change directions.

Suggested Citation

  • Huang, Yu-Li & Shen, Chung-Hua, 2015. "Cross-country variations in capital structure adjustment—The role of credit ratings," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 277-294.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:39:y:2015:i:c:p:277-294
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2015.04.011
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    2. Wojewodzki, Michal & Boateng, Agyenim & Brahma, Sanjukta, 2020. "Credit rating, banks' capital structure and speed of adjustment: A cross-country analysis," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    3. Lin, Winston T. & Chen, Yueh H. & Hung, TingShu, 2019. "A partial adjustment valuation approach with stochastic and dynamic speeds of partial adjustment to measuring and evaluating the business value of information technology," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 272(2), pages 766-779.
    4. Joo, M. Hashemi & Parhizgari, A.M., 2021. "A behavioral explanation of credit ratings and leverage adjustments," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C).
    5. Pindado, Julio & Requejo, Ignacio & Rivera, Juan C., 2017. "Economic forecast and corporate leverage choices: The role of the institutional environment," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 121-144.
    6. Papadimitri, Panagiota & Pasiouras, Fotios & Tasiou, Menelaos & Ventouri, Alexia, 2020. "The effects of board of directors’ education on firms’ credit ratings," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 294-313.
    7. Ruwani Fernando, Jayasuriya Mahapatabendige & Li, Leon & Hou, Greg, 2021. "Heterogeneity in capital structure adjustment revisited: Default versus non-default firms and short versus long time horizon," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 185-204.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capital structure; Credit rating; Partial adjustment model; Legal and institutional environments;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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