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Nonlinearity between CEO power and firm leverage: evidence from the threshold model

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  • Qaiser Munir

    (Universiti Malaysia Sabah)

  • Tongxia Li

    (Universiti Malaysia Sabah)

Abstract

This paper examines the non-linearity between Chief Executive Officer (CEO) power and firm leverage using a sample of 295 selected small and medium-sized enterprises listed on China Shenzhen Stock Exchange SMEs Board during the period 2009–2013. Specifically, a threshold estimation technique developed by Hansen (J Econ 93(2):345–368, 1999) is applied to investigate whether firms with powerful CEO use a sub-optimal leverage. The results confirm that there is a double-threshold effect exist and suggest an inverted U-shaped relationship between CEO power and firm book value-based leverage. Thus, these findings reveal that the distribution of decision-making power within firms can affect financing decision are made and CEOs with higher ability to exercise decision-making power tend to use lower leverage to pursue their own benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Qaiser Munir & Tongxia Li, 2018. "Nonlinearity between CEO power and firm leverage: evidence from the threshold model," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 593-620, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:rvmgts:v:12:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s11846-016-0224-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11846-016-0224-x
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    2. HONJO Yuji & IKEDA Yuya & KURIHARA Koki, 2024. "Founder-CEO Resistance and Ambition: An empirical analysis of firm survival in Japanese junior stock markets," Discussion papers 24060, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    3. Wang, Brian Yutao & Duan, Mengran & Liu, Guangqiang, 2021. "Does the power gap between a chairman and CEO matter? Evidence from corporate debt financing in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Firm leverage; CEO power; Threshold model; SMEs; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation

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