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Capital Structure in Transition: The Transformation of Financial Strategies in China's Emerging Economy

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  • Lisa A. Keister

    (Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, 300 Bricker Hall, 190 North Oval Mall, Columbus, Ohio 43215)

Abstract

During economic transition, firms must dramatically reduce their financial dependence on the state and begin to borrow from nonstate capital sources. This paper draws on institutional and resource dependence theories to examine this fundamental transformation of firm capital structure during China's transition. I propose that managers borrowed from external sources even when internal funds were available because retained earnings were considered state assets. Firms used retained earnings to signal financial health but borrowed externally to reduce dependence on the state. Uncertainty during transformation produced interfirm imitation of borrowing strategies, particularly imitation of local and high status others. I argue that the dynamics of market development shaped firm borrowing strategies and that these strategies are best viewed as trajectories over time. Analysis of survey data on the 1980–1989 capital structure of formerly state-owned firms provides support for these arguments and highlights the importance of institutional context in understanding corporate borrowing and strategic decision making.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa A. Keister, 2004. "Capital Structure in Transition: The Transformation of Financial Strategies in China's Emerging Economy," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(2), pages 145-158, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:15:y:2004:i:2:p:145-158
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1040.0043
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    Cited by:

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    4. Rizov, Marian, 2008. "Corporate capital structure and how soft budget constraints may affect it," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 22(4), pages 648-684.
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    14. Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Ajai Gaur & Deeksha Singh, 2019. "Pro-market institutions and global strategy: The pendulum of pro-market reforms and reversals," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 598-632, June.
    15. Jing Yang & Jiatao Li, 2008. "The development of entrepreneurship in China," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 335-359, June.
    16. Herrmann & Kim van der Putten, 2014. "Uraveling start-up processes with the help of sequence analyses," Innovation Studies Utrecht (ISU) working paper series 14-02, Utrecht University, Department of Innovation Studies, revised Jun 2014.
    17. Diego Quer & Enrique Claver & Laura Rienda, 2007. "Business and management in China: A review of empirical research in leading international journals," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 359-384, September.
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    19. Anwar, Sajid & Sun, Sizhong, 2015. "Can the presence of foreign investment affect the capital structure of domestic firms?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 32-43.
    20. Apalak Khatua, 2017. "Does business group affiliation matter for external debt finance? Evidence from India," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 16(4), pages 290-322, December.
    21. Sasho Arsov & Aleksandar Naumoski, 2016. "Determinants of capital structure: An empirical study of companies from selected post-transition economies," Zbornik radova Ekonomskog fakulteta u Rijeci/Proceedings of Rijeka Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, vol. 34(1), pages 119-146.

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