IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eco/journ1/2023-05-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Working Capital and Macroeconomic Variables on the Profitability of Listed Industrial Firms in South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Mutambara Tatenda Emmanuel

    (School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.)

  • Nyatanga Phocenah

    (School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.)

  • McCullough Kerry

    (School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of working capital management policies (WCMP) and macroeconomic variables on the profitability of 83 industrial firms listed on the JSE over the period 2010-2020. The system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) approach was employed in regression analysis to deal with the existence of endogeneity. Results establish that working capital investment policy (WCIP) is significantly and negatively related to firm profitability. A significant and positive relationship was found between working capital financing policy (WCFP) and firm profitability. Contrary to our expectations, interest rates demonstrated significant and positive relations with return on assets(ROA). Exchange rates and inflation rates proved to impact firm profitability significantly and negatively, which resulted in the study recommending JSE-listed industrial firms to pay special attention to the external environment. Economic growth influenced firm profitability positively and significantly, which aligned with the idea that GDP growth increases the average consumers' income per capita, increasing the goods and services consumed, enhancing profitability.

Suggested Citation

  • Mutambara Tatenda Emmanuel & Nyatanga Phocenah & McCullough Kerry, 2023. "The Impact of Working Capital and Macroeconomic Variables on the Profitability of Listed Industrial Firms in South Africa," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 13(5), pages 32-42, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eco:journ1:2023-05-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.econjournals.com/index.php/ijefi/article/download/14497/7475
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.econjournals.com/index.php/ijefi/article/view/14497
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kevin Pacini & Peter Mayer & Stefan Attar & Jean Azam, 2017. "Macroeconomic Factors And Firm Performance In The United Kingdom," Journal of Smart Economic Growth, , vol. 2(3), pages 1-11, December.
    2. David Roodman, 2009. "How to do xtabond2: An introduction to difference and system GMM in Stata," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 9(1), pages 86-136, March.
    3. Emma L. Schultz & David T. Tan & Kathleen D. Walsh, 2010. "Endogeneity and the corporate governance - performance relation," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 35(2), pages 145-163, August.
    4. Michael Yeboah & Andras Takacs, 2019. "Does Exchange Rate Matter in Profitability of Listed Companies in South Africa? An Empirical Approach," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 9(6), pages 171-178.
    5. Amr Ahmed Moussa, 2018. "The impact of working capital management on firms’ performance and value: evidence from Egypt," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(4), pages 259-273, July.
    6. Joseph A. Schumpeter & A. J. Nichol, 1934. "Robinson's Economics of Imperfect Competition," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 42, pages 249-249.
    7. Iman Soukhakian & Mehdi Khodakarami, 2019. "Working capital management, firm performance and macroeconomic factors: Evidence from Iran," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(1), pages 1684227-168, January.
    8. Chen-Ying Lee, 2014. "The Effects of Firm Specific Factors and Macroeconomics on Profitability of Property-Liability Insurance Industry in Taiwan," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 4(5), pages 681-691, May.
    9. William Sucuahi & Jay Mark Cambarihan, 2016. "Influence of Profitability to the Firm Value of Diversified Companies in the Philippines," Accounting and Finance Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 5(2), pages 149-149, May.
    10. Ibrahim Abidemi Odusanya & Olumuyiwa Ganiyu Yinusa & Bamidele M. Ilo, 2018. "Determinants of Firm Profitability in Nigeria: Evidence from Dynamic Panel Models," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 68(1), pages 43-58, January-M.
    11. Chen-Ying Lee, 2014. "The Effects of Firm Specific Factors and Macroeconomics on Profitability of Property-Liability Insurance Industry in Taiwan," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 4(5), pages 681-691.
    12. Wintoki, M. Babajide & Linck, James S. & Netter, Jeffry M., 2012. "Endogeneity and the dynamics of internal corporate governance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(3), pages 581-606.
    13. Chen-Ying Lee, 2014. "The effects of firm specific factors and macroeconomics on profitability of property-liability insurance industry in Taiwan," Journal of Business & Management (COES&RJ-JBM), , vol. 2(1), pages 221-227, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Amarjit Singh Sidhu & Neha Verma, 2017. "Unveiling the Factors Affecting Profitability of Reinsurance Companies," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 42(3), pages 190-204, August.
    2. Tutun Mukherjee & Som Sankar Sen, 2022. "Impact of CEO attributes on corporate reputation, financial performance, and corporate sustainable growth: evidence from India," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-50, December.
    3. David T. Tan & Larelle Chapple & Kathleen D. Walsh, 2017. "Corporate fraud culture: Re-examining the corporate governance and performance relation," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(2), pages 597-620, June.
    4. Myovella, Godwin & Karacuka, Mehmet & Haucap, Justus, 2020. "Digitalization and economic growth: A comparative analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa and OECD economies," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(2).
    5. Emma L. Schultz & David T. Tan & Kathleen D. Walsh, 2017. "Corporate governance and the probability of default," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57, pages 235-253, April.
    6. Amin, Qazi Awais & Liu, Jia, 2020. "Shareholders' control rights, family ownership and the firm's leverage decisions," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    7. Nguyen, Tuan & Locke, Stuart & Reddy, Krishna, 2014. "A dynamic estimation of governance structures and financial performance for Singaporean companies," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 1-11.
    8. Claudio Nuber & Patrick Velte, 2021. "Board gender diversity and carbon emissions: European evidence on curvilinear relationships and critical mass," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1958-1992, May.
    9. Lai Trung Hoang & Cuong Cao Nguyen & Baiding Hu, 2017. "Ownership Structure and Firm Performance Improvement: Does it Matter in the Vietnamese Stock Market?," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 36(4), pages 416-428, December.
    10. Nguyen Van Tuan & Nguyen Anh Tuan, 2016. "Corporate Governance Structures And Performance Of Firms In Asian Markets: A Comparative Analysis Between Singapore And Vietnam," Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies, Faculty of Economics, Vilnius University, vol. 7(2).
    11. Nguyen, Quyen & Diaz-Rainey, Ivan & Kuruppuarachchi, Duminda, 2023. "In search of climate distress risk," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    12. GOCKOV, Gjorgi & KAMENJARSKA, Tanja, 2021. "Empirical Analysis Of The Factors Determining The Profitability Of Insurance Companies In The Republic Of North Macedonia," Studii Financiare (Financial Studies), Centre of Financial and Monetary Research "Victor Slavescu", vol. 25(1), pages 48-64, March.
    13. Kumar, Vijay & Thrikawala, Sujani & Acharya, Sanjeev, 2022. "Financial inclusion and bank profitability: Evidence from a developed market," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    14. Tuan Nguyen & An Nguyen & Stuart Locke & Krishna Reddy, 2017. "Does the human capital of board directors add value to firms? Evidence from an Asian market," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 1385439-138, January.
    15. Maung, Yun Shwe Yee & Douglas, Ian & Tan, David, 2022. "Identifying the drivers of profitable airline growth," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 275-285.
    16. Delane Naidu & Ailie Charteris & Peter Moores‐Pitt, 2022. "The impact of foreign ownership on the performance of Johannesburg Stock Exchange‐listed firms: A blessing or a curse?," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 90(1), pages 75-92, March.
    17. Hoang, Khanh & Nguyen, Cuong & Zhang, Hailiang, 2021. "How does economic policy uncertainty affect corporate diversification?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 254-269.
    18. Slawomir Bukowski & Marzanna Lament, 2021. "Market Structure and Financial Effectiveness of Life Insurance Companies," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2B), pages 502-514.
    19. Md. Bokhtiar Hasan & SM Nahidul Islam & Abu N. M. Wahid, 2018. "The effect of macroeconomic variables on the performance of non-life insurance companies in Bangladesh," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 369-383, December.
    20. Ozcan Isik & Umit Firat Tasgin, 2017. "Profitability and Its Determinants in Turkish Manufacturing Industry: Evidence from a Dynamic Panel Model," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(8), pages 66-75, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Working Capital Management Policies; Macroeconomic Variables; Firm Profitability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • G17 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Financial Forecasting and Simulation

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eco:journ1:2023-05-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Ilhan Ozturk (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.econjournals.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.