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Bank finance for private firms in China: Does political capital still pay off?

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  • Wenli Cheng
  • Yongzheng Wu

Abstract

This paper investigates whether political connection can help private firms in China gain access to commercial bank loans. Based on data from the 2012 Nationwide Survey of Private Enterprises in China, it finds that: (i) politically connected firms were more likely to have access to commercial bank loans; (ii) the mechanism for this better access might be that, on the one hand, political connection was used by private firms as a tool to overcome discrimination and/or information asymmetry in the loan market; on the other hand, political connection was seen by banks as a signal of creditworthiness; and (iii) the importance of political connection seems to lie in the connection to the power to govern rather than the mere opportunity to influence policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenli Cheng & Yongzheng Wu, 2019. "Bank finance for private firms in China: Does political capital still pay off?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(1), pages 242-267, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:worlde:v:42:y:2019:i:1:p:242-267
    DOI: 10.1111/twec.12678
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    Cited by:

    1. Guangyu Huang & Fei Ye & Yina Li & Lujie Chen & Minhao Zhang, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility and bank credit loans: Exploring the moderating effect of the institutional environment in China," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(2), pages 707-742, June.
    2. Mengli Zhao & Shibin Sheng & Xiangyu Yang, 2024. "Does public employment foster or inhibit entrepreneurial intentions?," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 317-349, March.
    3. Khaw, Karren Lee-Hwei & Zainudin, Rozaimah & Rashid, Rasidah Mohd, 2019. "Cost of debt financing: Does political connection matter?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    4. Ling Huang & Haiyue Liu & Jack Hou & Fulong Xiao, 2022. "Long‐term financing effects of Chinese non‐SOEs Belt and Road OFDI," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(S1), pages 1819-1850, April.
    5. Cai, Qingfeng & Li, Dongxu & Liu, Hao, 2025. "Gender minority: A non-pecuniary approach to political capital," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 834-855.
    6. Kebede, Jeleta & Naranpanawa, Athula & Selvanathan, Saroja, 2023. "Financial inclusion and income inequality nexus: A case of Africa," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 539-557.
    7. Jebran, Khalil & Chen, Shihua, 2022. "Corporate policies and outcomes during the COVID-19 crisis: Does managerial ability matter?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    8. Driffield, Nigel & Du, Jun & Song, Meng, 2021. "Internationalization pathways of Chinese private firms: A closer look at firm-specific advantages," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(3).
    9. Zhao Wang & Xiaobing Liu & Qinhua Liu, 2019. "Study of the Relationship between Political Connections and Corporate Re-Entrepreneurial Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-28, July.
    10. Shuang Huang & Han Yu & Zheng Zhang & Yedong Feng, 2025. "Can state ownership help facilitate the digital transformation of private sector enterprises? Evidence from China," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    11. Liu, Sun & Zhang, Jie, 2023. "Conditional conservatism and investment efficiency under a state ownership environment: Further evidence from China," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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