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Capital structure of SMEs in Spanish regions

Author

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  • María Palacín-Sánchez
  • Luis Ramírez-Herrera
  • Filippo di Pietro

Abstract

This article examines whether the capital structure of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and its firm-factor determinants are different across regions belonging to a single country. This subject is relatively innovative in capital structure research, since the majority of the studies carried out in a single country have neglected to take into account the region in which firms operate to explain leverage. To this end, we study whether the capital structure and its firm-factor determinants—size, asset structure, profit, growth, and age—differ depending on the region in which the SMEs are located. For the empirical analysis, panel data methods are applied to a sample of firms from all regions of Spain for the period 2004–2007. Our results not only suggest that there are regional differences in the SMEs capital structure but also confirm that the impact of firm-factor determinants on leverage differs across regions in terms of signs, magnitudes and significance levels. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • María Palacín-Sánchez & Luis Ramírez-Herrera & Filippo di Pietro, 2013. "Capital structure of SMEs in Spanish regions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 41(2), pages 503-519, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:41:y:2013:i:2:p:503-519
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-012-9439-7
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    4. Apostolos Dasilas & Nicolas Papasyriopoulos, 2015. "Corporate governance, credit ratings and the capital structure of Greek SME and large listed firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 215-244, June.
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    10. Yarong Chen & Luca Sensini & Maria Vazquez, 2021. "Determinants of Leverage in Emerging Markets: Empirical Evidence," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 11(2), pages 40-46.
    11. Di Pietro, Filippo & Palacín Sánchez, María José & Roldán, José L., 2017. "Regional development and capital structure of SMEs," Cuadernos de Gestión, Universidad del País Vasco - Instituto de Economía Aplicada a la Empresa (IEAE).
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    13. MariaJosé Palacin-Sanchez & Filippo di Pietro, 2013. "Are Regional Institutional Factors Determinants Of The Capital Structure Of Smes?," ERSA conference papers ersa13p498, European Regional Science Association.
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    18. ManYing Kang & Marcel Ausloos, 2017. "An Inverse Problem Study: Credit Risk Ratings as a Determinant of Corporate Governance and Capital Structure in Emerging Markets: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies," Papers 1712.00602, arXiv.org.
    19. Nicolas Griesshaber, 2017. "Towards a more comprehensive understanding of corporate leverage ratios," IFC Bulletins chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), Uses of central balance sheet data offices' information, volume 45, Bank for International Settlements.
    20. Beata Zofia Filipiak & Marek Dylewski & Marcin Kalinowski & Grzegorz Krzykowski, 2020. "Do European Union Funds Have an Impact on the Volume of Corporate Lending? The Case of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2), pages 3-22.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capital structure; SME; Panel data; C23; G32; L26;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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