IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/empeco/v66y2024i5d10.1007_s00181-023-02525-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The effects of the investment decisions of telecommunications firms on their financial performance during the COVID-19 pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • İlhan Çam

    (Istanbul Technical University
    Gebze Technical University)

  • Nisa Özge Önal Tuğrul

    (Istanbul Technical University)

  • Kevser Şimşek

    (Istanbul Technical University)

  • Kamil Karaçuha

    (Istanbul Technical University)

  • Ertuğrul Karaçuha

    (Istanbul Technical University)

  • Gökhan Özer

    (Gebze Technical University
    Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University)

Abstract

In this paper we examine how the financial performance of telecommunications firms is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and investigate the role of capital expenditures in this relationship. The full sample consists of 383 unique telecommunications firms from 72 countries. Empirical models are estimated using ordinary least squares regression with the Driscoll–Kraay standard errors method. We find that the financial performance of telecommunications firms, on average, decreased slightly during the pandemic period. However, firms with higher capital expenditures have increased their financial performance in the pandemic era. We attribute this evidence to fewer agency problems and managerial myopia, since managers investing to meet demand surge in uncertainty may prioritize the long-term sustainability of their firms. We further find that telecommunications firms that have been most adversely affected by the repercussions of COVID-19 are those with lower capital expenditures operating in countries with less economic development and weaker institutional environments. Our main findings are robust to potential endogeneity issues, reverse causality, and alternative dependent variables. The findings have implications for company managers, investors, regulatory bodies, and policymakers.

Suggested Citation

  • İlhan Çam & Nisa Özge Önal Tuğrul & Kevser Şimşek & Kamil Karaçuha & Ertuğrul Karaçuha & Gökhan Özer, 2024. "The effects of the investment decisions of telecommunications firms on their financial performance during the COVID-19 pandemic," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 66(5), pages 2007-2047, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:66:y:2024:i:5:d:10.1007_s00181-023-02525-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-023-02525-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00181-023-02525-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s00181-023-02525-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stein, Jeremy C, 1988. "Takeover Threats and Managerial Myopia," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 96(1), pages 61-80, February.
    2. Md. Mahmudul Alam & Haitian Wei & Abu N. M. Wahid, 2021. "COVID‐19 outbreak and sectoral performance of the Australian stock market: An event study analysis," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 482-495, September.
    3. Mazen Gharsalli, 2019. "High leverage and variance of SMEs performance," Journal of Risk Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 20(2), pages 155-175, June.
    4. Vanja Grozdić & Branislav Marić & Mladen Radišić & Jarmila Šebestová & Marcin Lis, 2020. "Capital Investments and Manufacturing Firms’ Performance: Panel-Data Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Varoudakis, Aristomene & Rossotto, Carlo Maria, 2004. "Regulatory reform and performance in telecommunications: unrealized potential in the MENA countries," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 59-78, February.
    6. Symeou, Pavlos C., 2011. "Economy size and performance: An efficiency analysis in the telecommunications sector," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 426-440, June.
    7. Mohamad, Noorihsan, 2014. "Telecommunications reform and efficiency performance: Do good institutions matter?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 49-65.
    8. Stuart Kells, 2020. "Impacts of COVID-19 on corporate governance and assurance, international finance and economics, and non-fiction book publishing: some personal reflections," Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 16(4), pages 629-635, November.
    9. Bok Baik & Joon Chae & Sunhwa Choi & David B. Farber, 2013. "Changes in Operational Efficiency and Firm Performance: A Frontier Analysis Approach," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 996-1026, September.
    10. John C. Driscoll & Aart C. Kraay, 1998. "Consistent Covariance Matrix Estimation With Spatially Dependent Panel Data," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 80(4), pages 549-560, November.
    11. Ahmad, Wasim & Kutan, Ali M. & Chahal, Rishman Jot Kaur & Kattumuri, Ruth, 2021. "COVID-19 Pandemic and firm-level dynamics in the USA, UK, Europe, and Japan," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    12. Likitwongkajon, Napaporn & Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2021. "The short- and long-run effects of foreign investments on firm performance: Evidence from Asia Pacific," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 366-385.
    13. Jamison, Mark A. & Wang, Peter, 2021. "Valuation of digital goods during the coronavirus outbreak in the United States," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(5).
    14. Saunders, Robert J., 1983. "Telecommunications in the developing world : Investment decision and performance monitoring," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 7(4), pages 277-284, December.
    15. Ben S. Bernanke, 1983. "Irreversibility, Uncertainty, and Cyclical Investment," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 98(1), pages 85-106.
    16. Daniel Hoechle, 2007. "Robust standard errors for panel regressions with cross-sectional dependence," Stata Journal, StataCorp LLC, vol. 7(3), pages 281-312, September.
    17. Alves, Paulo F. Pereira & Ferreira, Miguel A., 2011. "Capital structure and law around the world," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 119-150, July.
    18. Jack Clampit & Dinesh Hasija & Michael Dugan & John Gamble, 2021. "The Effect of Risk, R&D Intensity, Liquidity, and Inventory on Firm Performance during COVID-19: Evidence from US Manufacturing Industry," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, October.
    19. Myers, Stewart C. & Majluf, Nicholas S., 1984. "Corporate financing and investment decisions when firms have information that investors do not have," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 187-221, June.
    20. Lemstra, Wolter & Voogt, Bart & van Gorp, Nicolai, 2015. "Measuring broadband in Europe: Development of a market model and performance index using structural equations modelling," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 253-268.
    21. Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2006. "International Differences in the Cost of Equity Capital: Do Legal Institutions and Securities Regulation Matter?," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(3), pages 485-531, June.
    22. Goodell, John W. & Huynh, Toan Luu Duc, 2020. "Did Congress trade ahead? Considering the reaction of US industries to COVID-19," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    23. Muhammad Khurram Khan, 2021. "Importance of telecommunications in the times of COVID-19," Telecommunication Systems: Modelling, Analysis, Design and Management, Springer, vol. 76(1), pages 1-2, January.
    24. Khan, Muhammad Kaleem & He, Ying & Akram, Umair & Sarwar, Suleman, 2017. "Financing and monitoring in an emerging economy: Can investment efficiency be increased?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 62-77.
    25. Bojan Obrenovic & Jianguo Du & Danijela Godinic & Diana Tsoy & Muhammad Aamir Shafique Khan & Ilimdorjon Jakhongirov, 2020. "Sustaining Enterprise Operations and Productivity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: “Enterprise Effectiveness and Sustainability Model”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-27, July.
    26. Anja Bauer & Enzo Weber, 2021. "COVID-19: how much unemployment was caused by the shutdown in Germany?," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(12), pages 1053-1058, July.
    27. Arellano, Manuel & Bover, Olympia, 1995. "Another look at the instrumental variable estimation of error-components models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 29-51, July.
    28. Li Cui & Pamela Kent & Sujin Kim & Shan Li, 2021. "Accounting conservatism and firm performance during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(4), pages 5543-5579, December.
    29. Jim Lee, 2009. "Does Size Matter in Firm Performance? Evidence from US Public Firms," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(2), pages 189-203.
    30. Eric C. Y. Ng, 2012. "What determines productivity performance of telecommunications services industry? A cross-country analysis," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(18), pages 2359-2372, June.
    31. Blundell, Richard & Bond, Stephen, 1998. "Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 115-143, August.
    32. Gerpott, Torsten J. & Jakopin, Nejc M., 2005. "The degree of internationalization and the financial performance of European mobile network operators," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(8), pages 635-661, September.
    33. Mac Junior Abeka & Eric Andoh & John Gartchie Gatsi & Seyram Kawor & David McMillan, 2021. "Financial development and economic growth nexus in SSA economies: The moderating role of telecommunication development," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 1862395-186, January.
    34. Katz, Raúl & Jung, Juan & Callorda, Fernando, 2020. "Can digitization mitigate the economic damage of a pandemic? Evidence from SARS," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(10).
    35. Thomas H. Brush & Philip Bromiley & Margaretha Hendrickx, 2000. "The free cash flow hypothesis for sales growth and firm performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(4), pages 455-472, April.
    36. repec:eme:mfppss:mf-11-2019-0586 is not listed on IDEAS
    37. Demirguc-Kunt, Asli & Maksimovic, Vojislav, 1999. "Institutions, financial markets, and firm debt maturity," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(3), pages 295-336, December.
    38. Myovella, Godwin & Karacuka, Mehmet & Haucap, Justus, 2020. "Digitalization and economic growth: A comparative analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa and OECD economies," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(2).
    39. Jiang, Jie & Hou, Jack & Wang, Cangyu & Liu, HaiYue, 2021. "COVID-19 impact on firm investment—Evidence from Chinese publicly listed firms," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    40. repec:osf:osfxxx:gt4wm_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    41. Shumi Akhtar, 2017. "Capital structure of multinational and domestic corporations – a cross-country comparison," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(2), pages 319-349, June.
    42. Huseyin Gulen & Mihai Ion, 2016. "Editor's Choice Policy Uncertainty and Corporate Investment," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 29(3), pages 523-564.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nga Trinh, 2024. "Economic Policy Uncertainty and Corporate Investment Efficiency: Evidence from Australian Energy Companies," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(1), pages 53-60, January.
    2. Christopher A. Hartwell & Anna P. Malinowska, 2018. "Firm-Level and Institutional Determinants of Corporate Capital Structure in Poland: New Evidence from the Warsaw Stock Exchange," Czech Journal of Economics and Finance (Finance a uver), Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, vol. 68(2), pages 120-143, April.
    3. Gökhan Özer & İlhan Çam, 2021. "Financing decisions of firms: the roles of legal systems, shareholder rights and creditor rights," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(2), pages 2717-2757, June.
    4. Alessandro Federici & Pierluigi Montalbano, 2012. "Macroeconomic volatility, consumption behaviour and welfare: A cross-country analysis," Working Paper Series 3612, Department of Economics, University of Sussex Business School.
    5. Prianto Budi Saptono & Gustofan Mahmud & Intan Pratiwi & Dwi Purwanto & Ismail Khozen & Lambang Wiji Imantoro & Maria Eurelia Wayan, 2024. "Book-Tax Differences during the Crisis: Does Corporate Social Responsibility Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-38, August.
    6. Daniel Dejuán & Corinna Ghirelli, 2018. "Policy uncertainty and investment in Spain," Working Papers 1848, Banco de España.
    7. Gao, Wenlian & Zhu, Feifei, 2015. "Information asymmetry and capital structure around the world," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 131-159.
    8. Levine, Ross, 2005. "Finance and Growth: Theory and Evidence," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 12, pages 865-934, Elsevier.
    9. Michel Dumont, 2015. "Working Paper 05-15 - Evaluation of federal tax incentives for private R&D in Belgium: An update," Working Papers 1505, Federal Planning Bureau, Belgium.
    10. Abdulrasheed Zakari & Bahareh Oryani & Rafael Alvarado & Kadir Mumini, 2023. "Assessing the impact of green energy and finance on environmental performance in China and Japan," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 1185-1199, April.
    11. Caixe, Daniel Ferreira, 2022. "Corporate governance and investment sensitivity to policy uncertainty in Brazil," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(PB).
    12. Domguia, Edmond Noubissi & Ngounou, Borice Augustin & Pondie, Thierry Messie & Bitoto, Fabrice Ewolo, 2024. "Environmental tax and energy poverty: An economic approach for an environmental and social solution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    13. Izaskun Zuazu, 2022. "Electoral systems and income inequality: a tale of political equality," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(2), pages 793-819, August.
    14. İbrahim Yarba & Z. Nuray Güner, 2020. "Leverage dynamics: Do financial development and government leverage matter? Evidence from a major developing economy," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 59(5), pages 2473-2507, November.
    15. Wei-Fong Pan, 2019. "Geopolitical Risk and R&D investment," Economics Discussion Papers em-dp2019-11, Department of Economics, University of Reading.
    16. Isaac Ketu & Paul Ningaye & Anatole Tchounga, 2024. "Industrialization in the face of economic policy uncertainty: cross-country evidence," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 44(2), pages 601-610.
    17. Clement Olalekan Olaniyi & Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al‐Faryan & Eyitayo Oyewunmi Ogbaro, 2025. "Do institutional quality and its threshold matter in the sensitivity of the renewable energy transition to financial development? New empirical perspectives," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(1), pages 5-43, January.
    18. Kelly, Arsene Mouongue & Ngo Nguéda Radler, Romaine Doline, 2024. "Does energy consumption matter for climate change in Africa? New insights from panel data analysis," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    19. Henri Njangang & Simplice A. Asongu & Sosson Tadadjeu & Yann Nounamo, 2021. "Is financial development shaping or shaking economic sophistication in African countries?," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 21/018, African Governance and Development Institute..
    20. Gbolonyo, Emmanuel Y. & Ofori, Isaac K. & Ojong, Nathanael, 2024. "Does Economic Complexity Promote Inclusive Green Growth," EconStor Preprints 298785, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Covid-19; Pandemic; Performance; Financial performance; Corporate investment; Telecommunications;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • L96 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Telecommunications

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:66:y:2024:i:5:d:10.1007_s00181-023-02525-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.