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Leverage and Capital Structure Determinants of Chinese Listed Companies

Author

Listed:
  • Ferrarini , Benno

    (Asian Development Bank)

  • Hinojales , Marthe

    (Asian Development Bank)

  • Scaramozzino , Pasquale

    (SOAS, University of London)

Abstract

Total debt in the People’s Republic of China has increased significantly in recent years, mostly on account of nonfinancial corporate debt. Earning and the financial performance of corporate firms have weakened, and so has the asset quality of the financial sector. This paper assesses the financial fragility of the Chinese economy by looking at risk factors in the nonfinancial sector. We apply quantile regressions to a rich dataset of Chinese listed companies contained in Standard & Poor’s IQ Capital database. We find higher sensitivity over time of corporate leverage to some of its key determinants, particularly for firms at the upper margin of the distribution. In particular, profitability increasingly acts as a curb on corporate leverage. At a time of falling profitability across the Chinese nonfinancial corporate sector, this eases the brake on leverage and may contribute to its continuing increase.

Suggested Citation

  • Ferrarini , Benno & Hinojales , Marthe & Scaramozzino , Pasquale, 2017. "Leverage and Capital Structure Determinants of Chinese Listed Companies," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 509, Asian Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:adbewp:0509
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Huang, Guihai & Song, Frank M., 2006. "The determinants of capital structure: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 14-36.
    2. Powell, David, 2014. "Did the Economic Stimulus Payments of 2008 Reduce Labor Supply? Evidence from Quantile Panel Data Estimation," Working Papers 710-3, RAND Corporation.
    3. David Powell, 2014. "Did the Economic Stimulus Payments of 2008 Reduce Labor Supply? Evidence from Quantile Panel Data Estimation," Working Papers WR-710-3, RAND Corporation.
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    Cited by:

    1. Huu Manh Nguyen & Thi Huong Giang Vuong & Thi Huong Nguyen & Yang-Che Wu & Wing-Keung Wong, 2020. "Sustainability of Both Pecking Order and Trade-Off Theories in Chinese Manufacturing Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-25, May.
    2. Wang, Hua & Liao, Lingtao & Wu, Ji (George), 2023. "Robot adoption and firm's capacity utilization: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    3. Pattanaik, Arpita & Rajeswari Sengupta, 2018. "Business cycle effect on leverage: A study of Indian non-financial firms," Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai Working Papers 2018-001, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, India.
    4. Muhammad Asif Joyo & Nawaz Ahmad & Ghulam Mustafa Shaikh, 2017. "The Role Of Business Risk And Non Debt Tax Shields On Capital Structure: A Study Based On Cement Sector In Pakistan," IBT Journal of Business Studies (JBS), Ilma University, Faculty of Management Science, vol. 13(2), pages 13-14.
    5. Muhammad Asif Joyo & Nawaz Ahmad & Ghulam Mustafa Shaikh, 2017. "The Role Of Business Risk And Non Debt Tax Shields On Capital Structure: A Study Based On Cement Sector In Pakistan," IBT Journal of Business Studies (JBS), Ilma University, Faculty of Management Science, vol. 13(2), pages 36-49.
    6. Raffaele Miniaci & Paolo Panteghini, 2021. "On the Capital Structure of Foreign Subsidiaries: Evidence from a Panel Data Quantile Regression Model," CESifo Working Paper Series 9085, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    corporate debt; debt sustainability; panel quantile regression; People’s Republic of China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General
    • H60 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - General

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