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The Adjustment To Target Leverage Of Spanish Public Firms: Macroeconomic Conditions And Distance From Target

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  • GONZALO RUBIO

    (Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera)

  • FRANCISCO SOGORB

    (Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera)

Abstract

Our evidence suggests that Spanish public firms adjust slowly toward their capital structure target, with the typical firm closing approximately one-fifth of the gap between its current and target debt ratios each year. This finding is in contrast with previous evidence; however, we employ econometric techniques specially designed for highly persistent dependent variables, like market debt ratios. Moreover, our evidence does not seem to indicate that macroeconomic conditions, at least under the conditions experienced by the Spanish economy during our sample period, affect the speed of adjustment. If anything, our results are consistent with faster adjustments during economic states in which the distance between the current and target leverage is the greatest.

Suggested Citation

  • Gonzalo Rubio & Francisco Sogorb, 2011. "The Adjustment To Target Leverage Of Spanish Public Firms: Macroeconomic Conditions And Distance From Target," Revista de Economia Aplicada, Universidad de Zaragoza, Departamento de Estructura Economica y Economia Publica, vol. 19(3), pages 35-63, Winter.
    • Handle: RePEc:rev:reveca:v:19:y:2011:i:3:p:35-63
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    2. Azofra, Valentín & Rodríguez-Sanz, Juan Antonio & Velasco, Pilar, 2020. "The role of macroeconomic factors in the capital structure of European firms: How influential is bank debt?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 494-514.
    3. RAMON-DANGLA, Remedios & YAÑEZ-MUÑOZ, Leonardo, 2018. "How The Public Spending On Defense Can Affect Business Survival? The Case Of Shipbuilding In Spain," Regional and Sectoral Economic Studies, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 18(2), pages 71-86.
    4. Elena Valentina IVASCU & Nicoleta BARBUTA-MISU, 2017. "Influences of the Capital Structure and the Cost of Capital on Financial Performance. Case Study on ENGIE Group," Proceedings RCE 2017, Editura Lumen, vol. 0, pages 304-320, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    market debt ratio; dynamic trade-off; target leverage; speed of adjustment; macroeconomics; distance from target;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • E30 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)

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