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Economic Policy Uncertainty and Corporate Investment Efficiency: Evidence from Australian Energy Companies

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  • Nga Trinh

    (Department of Finance and Banking, School of Economics, Finance and Accounting, International University-Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) on corporate investment efficiency. I argue that EPU increases financing constraints or induces firms to postpone investment projects, thereby reducing their investment efficiency. Using a data set of Australian energy firms from 2010 to 2022 and the EPU index of Australia, the findings show that the EPU index has a significant and negative effect on corporate investment efficiency. The results hold in fixed-effects and dynamic GMM models and after control for firm-specific factors, suggesting that a macroeconomic factor like the EPU index also plays an important role in determining the efficiency of Australian energy companies’ investments.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:eco:journ2:2024-01-8
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    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.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economic Policy Uncertainty; Corporate Investment Efficiency; Energy Company; Australia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • Q43 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy and the Macroeconomy
    • E60 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - General

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