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Financial leverage and export quality: evidence from France

Author

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  • Flora Bellone

    (OFCE - Observatoire français des conjonctures économiques (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po)

  • Michel Bernini
  • Sarah Guillou

    (OFCE - Observatoire français des conjonctures économiques (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po)

Abstract

Does corporate financial structure matter for a firm's ability to compete in international markets through output quality? This study answers this question by using firm-level export and balance sheet data covering a large sample of French manufacturing exporters over the period 1997–2007. The main result is that there is a negative causal relation between a firm's leverage and export quality, where quality is inferred from the estimation of a discrete choice model of foreign consumers' demand. This result is robust across different specifications and estimation techniques. In addition, by estimating investment models we find that the negative impact of leverage on quality is consistent with theories predicting that the agency cost of debt determines suboptimal investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Flora Bellone & Michel Bernini & Sarah Guillou, 2015. "Financial leverage and export quality: evidence from France," Post-Print hal-03470073, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03470073
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-03470073
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yu, Ziliang & Tong, Jiadong, 2020. "Financing benefit from exporting: An indirect identification approach," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 57.
    2. Spiros Bougheas & Hosung Lim & Simona Mateut & Paul Mizen & Cihan Yalcin, 2018. "Foreign currency borrowing, exports and firm performance: evidence from a currency crisis," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(17), pages 1649-1671, November.
    3. Canh Phuc Nguyen & Thanh Dinh Su, 2021. "Export quality dynamics: Multidimensional evidence of financial development," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(8), pages 2319-2343, August.
    4. Anwar, Sajid & Sun, Sizhong, 2018. "Foreign direct investment and export quality upgrading in China's manufacturing sector," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 289-298.
    5. Eddy Bekkers & Joseph Francois & Miriam Manchin, 2020. "Sector and importer determinants of prices for traded intermediates," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(2), pages 720-742, May.
    6. Xuan Leng & Pengcheng Li & Yuming Zheng, 2023. "Does the expansion of local government debt affect the export quality?," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(4), pages 2495-2515, June.
    7. Ilona Sergant & Patrick Cayseele, 2019. "Financial Constraints: State Aid to the Rescue? Empirical Evidence from Belgian Firm-Level Data," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 33-67, March.
    8. Jiemiao Dong & Yinxia Mi & Zhuangxiong Yu, 2022. "Industrial plans, export destinations and product quality," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(3), pages 812-840, March.
    9. David K. Chalmers & Marco Della Porta & Luca Sensini, 2020. "Export Intensity and Leverage: An Empirical Analysis of Spanish SMEs," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 10(5), pages 382-386.
    10. Jiayun Xu & Qilin Mao, 2018. "On the relationship between intermediate input imports and export quality in China," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 26(3), pages 429-467, July.
    11. David K. Chalmers & Marco Della Porta & Luca Sensini, 2020. "Export Intensity and Leverage: An Empirical Analysis of Spanish SMEs," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 10(5), pages 382-386.
    12. Choi, ByeongHwa, 2023. "The impact of financial development on innovation-based exports: Do all firms benefit equally?," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 81-100.
    13. Hongfeng Peng & Jingwen Yu, 2021. "Absorptive capacity and quality upgrading effect of OFDI: Evidence from China," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(5), pages 651-671, December.
    14. Pinto, João M. & Silva, Cátia S., 2021. "Does export intensity affect corporate leverage? Evidence from Portuguese SMEs," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    15. Ha, Le Thanh, 2023. "The role of financial development in enhancing trades in environmental goods: International insights from 119 countries," Journal of Commodity Markets, Elsevier, vol. 29(C).

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