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How does capital structure change product-market competitiveness? Evidence from Chinese firms

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  • Li Li
  • Zixuan Wang

Abstract

Finance research shows capital structure has an important effect on the product-market competitiveness of firms. Our paper documents an asymmetric effect of capital structure on firms’ competitiveness in a sample of Chinese firms. Firms whose capital structure is characterized by a low leverage but rapid leverage growth has a dominant position in their product market. The industry average leverage ratio is also a critical factor influencing firms’ competitiveness. High debt levels hinder firms’ competitiveness. The influence of capital structure on firms’ product-market competitiveness varies based on the extent of industry concentration. In highly concentrated industries, high leverage level and slow leverage growth suppress firms’ competitiveness to a larger extent compared with industries with low concentration.

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  • Li Li & Zixuan Wang, 2019. "How does capital structure change product-market competitiveness? Evidence from Chinese firms," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(2), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0210618
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210618
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Anton Miglo, 2021. "STO vs. ICO: A Theory of Token Issues under Moral Hazard and Demand Uncertainty," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-35, May.
    4. Gerasimos T. Soldatos, 2021. "Industry and financial market concentration," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 48(2), pages 275-289, June.

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