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Escaping Political Extraction: Political Participation, Institutions, and Cash Holdings in China

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We study the effects of political participation on holdings of liquid assets in a transition economy. Previous research has shown that the risk of political extraction by politicians and bureaucrats in countries with weak institutions has an adverse effect on holdings of liquid assets. We propose that political participation by private entrepreneurs can function as a means to alleviate some of that risk. Our empirical results indicate that political participation is positively related to cash holdings in China, especially in regions with weak institutions proxied by lower GDP per capita, lower marketization levels, and weaker property protection. Cash holdings have a negative effect on firm value as measured by the market-to-book ratio. However, political participation, the combined effect of cash holdings and political participation, as well as the combined effect of cash holdings, political participation, and institutions are all positively associated with firm value. Political participation thus results in an improved ability for firms that function in an environment fraught with the risk of political extraction to increase their holdings of liquid assets as well as a related positive effect on firm value.

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  • Feng, Xunan & Johansson, Anders C., 2011. "Escaping Political Extraction: Political Participation, Institutions, and Cash Holdings in China," Working Paper Series 2011-18, Stockholm School of Economics, China Economic Research Center.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:hacerc:2011-018
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    1. Xunan Feng & Anders C. Johansson, 2017. "CEO Incentives in Chinese State-Controlled Firms," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 65(2), pages 223-264.
    2. Gu, Xiaolong & Xin, Yu & Xu, Liping, 2019. "Expected stock price crash risk and bank loan pricing: Evidence from China's listed firms," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    3. Yu, Xiaojun & Yao, Yao & Zheng, Huanhuan & Zhang, Lin, 2020. "The role of political connection on overinvestment of Chinese energy firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    4. Zhang, Yi & Liu, Chun, 2021. "Religion and unproductive entrepreneurship: The role of risk aversion," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    5. Yujun Lian & Mohamad Sepehri & Maggie Foley, 2011. "Corporate Cash Holdings and Financial Crisis: An Empirical Study of Chinese Companies," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 1(2), pages 112-124, December.
    6. Tang, Tingfeng & Li, Zhigang & Ni, Jinlan & Yuan, Jia, 2020. "Land costs, government intervention, and migration of firms: The case of China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    7. Feng, Xunan & Johansson, Anders C. & Zhang, Tianyu, 2015. "Mixing business with politics: Political participation by entrepreneurs in China," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 220-235.
    8. Feng, Xunan & Johansson, Anders C., 2018. "Firm Ownership, Political Participation, and Access to Finance through Public Bond Offerings in China," Stockholm School of Economics Asia Working Paper Series 2018-50, Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm China Economic Research Institute.
    9. Jia Liu & Oleksandr Talavera & Shuxing Yin & Mao Zhang, 2022. "Hierarchical political power and the value of cash holdings," Discussion Papers 22-03, Department of Economics, University of Birmingham.
    10. Sabeeh Ullah & Yasir Kamal, 2017. "Board Characteristics, Political Connections, and Corporate Cash Holdings: The Role of Firm Size and Political Regime," Business & Economic Review, Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan, vol. 9(1), pages 157-179, March.
    11. Anderson, Hamish D. & Chi, Jing & Wang, Qing (Sophie), 2017. "Political ties and VC exits: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 48-66.
    12. Chang, Yuyuan & Pan, Xiaofei & Wang, Jianling & Zhou, Qing, 2021. "Depoliticization and corporate cash holdings: Evidence from the mandated resignation of directors in China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    13. Yaoqin Li & Xixiong Xu & Weiyu Gan, 2018. "Political extraction and corporate cash holdings in China," Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, The Crawford School, The Australian National University, vol. 32(2), pages 76-94, November.
    14. Fatima Saleh Abd Almajeed Al-Hamshary & Akmalia M. Ariff & Khairul Anuar Kamarudin & Norakma Abd Majid, 2023. "Corporate Risk-Taking and Cash Holdings: The Moderating Effect of Investor Protection," Capital Markets Review, Malaysian Finance Association, vol. 31(1), pages 1-23.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Political participation; Private entrepreneurs; Cash holdings; Political extraction; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • 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
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies

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