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The helping hand, the lazy hand, or the grabbing hand? Central vs. local government shareholders in publicly listed firms in China

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  • Cheung, Yan-Leung
  • Rau, P. Raghavendra
  • Aris, Stouraitis

Abstract

We analyze related party transactions between Chinese publicly listed firms and their stateowned enterprise (SOEs) shareholders to examine whether companies benefit from the presence of government shareholders and politically connected directors appointed by the government. We find that related party transactions between firms and their government shareholders seem to result in expropriation of the minority shareholders in firms controlled by local government SOEs or with a large proportion of local government affiliated directors on their board, and in provinces where local government bureaucrats are less likely to be prosecuted for misappropriation of state funds. On the other hand, firms controlled by the central government (or with a large proportion of central government affiliated directors) are benefited in their related party transactions with their central government SOEs.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheung, Yan-Leung & Rau, P. Raghavendra & Aris, Stouraitis, 2008. "The helping hand, the lazy hand, or the grabbing hand? Central vs. local government shareholders in publicly listed firms in China," CEI Working Paper Series 2008-11, Center for Economic Institutions, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    • Handle: RePEc:hit:hitcei:2008-11
    Note: February 2008
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    File URL: https://hermes-ir.lib.hit-u.ac.jp/hermes/ir/re/29286/WP2008-11.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Shimin & Sun, Zheng & Tang, Song & Wu, Donghui, 2011. "Government intervention and investment efficiency: Evidence from China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 259-271, April.
    2. Liao, Jing & Young, Martin, 2012. "The impact of residual government ownership in privatized firms: New evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 338-351.
    3. Jiang, Guohua & Lee, Charles M.C. & Yue, Heng, 2010. "Tunneling through intercorporate loans: The China experience," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(1), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Ding, Mingfa, 2014. "Political Connections and Stock Liquidity: Political Network, Hierarchy and Intervention," Knut Wicksell Working Paper Series 2014/7, Lund University, Knut Wicksell Centre for Financial Studies.
    5. Tong, Wilson H.S. & Yu, Wayne W., 2012. "A corporate governance explanation of the A-B share discount in China," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 125-147.
    6. Zhang, Li & Liu, Chengyi & Zhang, Jinjin & Ke, Jinjun & Yuan, Jiayue, 2023. "Party leadership, corporate governance and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    7. Zhang, Min & Liu, Yaosong & Xie, Lu & Ye, Tingting, 2017. "Does the cutoff of “red capital” raise a red flag? Political connections and stock price crash risk," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 89-109.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Law and economics; Government ownership; China; State-Owned Enterprises (SOE); Related party transactions; Political connections;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • K33 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - International Law

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