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How stable are corporate capital structures? International evidence

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  • He, Wen
  • Hu, Maggie Rong
  • Mi, Lin
  • Yu, Jin

Abstract

Using a large sample of firms from 43 markets, we find significant time-series variation in firms’ leverage ratios around the world. Industry median leverage ratios and aggregate leverage ratios also change substantially over time. Relative to actual leverage ratios, target leverage ratios estimated from the time-varying target models are much more stable. Variance decomposition shows that leverage instability is largely driven by deviations from the target. A number of firm and market characteristics are related to capital structure instability. We also find evidence consistent with firms using financing activities to adjust their leverage ratios towards the target in global markets.

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  • He, Wen & Hu, Maggie Rong & Mi, Lin & Yu, Jin, 2021. "How stable are corporate capital structures? International evidence," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:126:y:2021:i:c:s0378426621000613
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2021.106103
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    2. Francesco Menoncin & Paolo Panteghini & Luca Regis, 2021. "Optimal Firm's Dividend and Capital Structure for Mean Reverting Profitability," CESifo Working Paper Series 9407, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capital structures; International markets; Deviations from the target; Corporate finance;
    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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