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Political connections and firm performance: Evidence from government officials' site visits

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  • Wang, Yizhong
  • Yao, Chengxue
  • Kang, Di

Abstract

This study uses government officials' corporate site visits as a measurement of political connection and examines how political connection affects firm performance. Using a novel dataset on government officials' site visits from 2004 to 2014, we find that firm performance increases following corporate site visits by government officials. This study finds that firms obtain more new investment projects and bank loans, improve corporate governance, and decrease information asymmetry as well. Government officials' site visits are also associated with positive abnormal stock returns, indicating that investors interpret government officials' site visits as a signal of government endorsement and support. Using China's recent anti-corruption campaign as an exogenous shock, we find that political connections are more valuable in the absence of political corruption.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Yizhong & Yao, Chengxue & Kang, Di, 2019. "Political connections and firm performance: Evidence from government officials' site visits," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:57:y:2019:i:c:s0927538x18301136
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2018.05.003
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    Cited by:

    1. ITO Asei & LIM Jaehwan & ZHANG Hongyong, 2023. "Political Visits and Firm Value: Evidence from central leaders’ local tours in China," Discussion papers 23050, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    2. Trifonov, Dmitri, 2021. "Political connections of Russian corporations: Blessing or curse?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C).
    3. Adamu Jibir & Musa Abdu & Farida Bello & Iliya Garba, 2019. "Do Institutions Promote Firm Performance? Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Review of Market Integration, India Development Foundation, vol. 11(3), pages 111-137, December.
    4. Jintao Zhang & Zhen Yang & Li Meng & Lu Han, 2022. "Environmental regulations and enterprises innovation performance: the role of R&D investments and political connections," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 4088-4109, March.
    5. Liu, Xiaoyan & Zhao, Rui & Guo, Mengmeng, 2023. "CEO turnover, political connections, and firm performance: Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    6. He Xiao, 2023. "Institutional investors' corporate site visits and corporate investment efficiency," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 23(2), pages 359-392, June.
    7. Tariq H. Ismail & Mohamed El-Deeb & Yasser Tawfik Halim, 2022. "Do related party transactions affect the relationship between political connections and firm value? Evidence from Egypt," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Zhang, Wei & Wang, Pengfei & Li, Yi, 2021. "Do messages on online stock forums spur firm productivity?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    9. Chengxue Yao & Fan Jiang & Liang Guo, 2023. "Fixed investment or financial assets investment: Evidence from political uncertainty in China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(1), pages 427-450, March.
    10. Thanakorn Suriyapongprapai & Pattanaporn Chatjuthamard & Arnat Leemakdej & Sirimon Treepongkaruna, 2022. "Stakeholder engagement, military ties, and firm performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(2), pages 469-479, March.
    11. Braham, Rihem & de Peretti, Christian & Belkacem, Lotfi, 2023. "Political patronage and banks’ leverage in the Middle Eastern and North African region: A new neural panel regression analysis," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 298-306.
    12. Guo, Ping & Shi, Guifeng & Tian, Gary Gang & Duan, Siqi, 2021. "Politicians’ hometown favoritism and corporate investments: The role of social identity," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    13. Alam, Ahmed W. & Houston, Reza & Farjana, Ashupta, 2023. "Geopolitical risk and corporate investment: How do politically connected firms respond?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    14. Borui Guo & Xiaoxia Huang, 2023. "Role of Digital Transformation on Carbon Performance: Evidence from Firm-Level Analysis in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-18, September.
    15. Yi, Shangkun & Wang, Jian & Wang, Xiaoting & Feng, Hongrui, 2022. "CEO political connection and stock sentiment beta: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Officials' site visit; Political connection; Firm value;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • 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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