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Do different types of political connections affect corporate investments? Evidence from Malaysia

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  • Phan, Dinh Hoang Bach
  • Tee, Chwee Ming
  • Tran, Vuong Thao

Abstract

In this study, we examine whether corporate investments are influenced by political connections. Using recent hand-collected data, we find that politically-connected firms are associated with higher levels of corporate investments. Particularly, corporate investments by politically-connected firms are twice the size of non-politically-connected firms. Furthermore, the effect is stronger for government-linked firms, firms with politically-connected controlling shareholders and older politically-connected firms. From the firm's characteristic perspective, the influence of political connections on corporate investments is stronger in larger firms and firms with higher bargaining power. Our findings remain unchanged despite been subjected to a wide range of robustness tests.

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  • Phan, Dinh Hoang Bach & Tee, Chwee Ming & Tran, Vuong Thao, 2020. "Do different types of political connections affect corporate investments? Evidence from Malaysia," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:42:y:2020:i:c:s1566014119304078
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2019.100667
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    3. Philip Sinnadurai & Ravichandran Subramaniam & Susela Devi, 2021. "The Influence of Government Shareholding on Dividend Policy in Malaysia," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-29, September.
    4. Yin, Doudou & Si, Deng-Kui & Wang, Yun, 2024. "How does corporate investment respond to trade policy uncertainty in China? The role of political connections," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1429-1445.
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    6. Khanh Hoang & Thanh Tat Tran & Hien Thi Thu Tran & Anh Quoc Le, 2022. "Do different political connections affect financial reporting quality differently? Evidence from Malaysia," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(2), pages 289-300, March.
    7. Tee, Chwee Ming & Lee, Mei Yee & Majid, Abdul, 2021. "Heterogeneous political connections and stock price crash risk: Evidence from Malaysia," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    8. Chen, Xian & Li, Yang & Xiao, Jihong & Wen, Fenghua, 2020. "Oil shocks, competition, and corporate investment: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    9. Tee, Chwee-Ming & Hooy, Chee-Wooi, 2023. "Political connections and economic policy uncertainty: A global evidence," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    10. Narayan, Paresh Kumar & Narayan, Seema & Tran, Vuong Thao & Thuraisamy, Kannan, 2021. "State-level politics: Do they influence corporate investment decisions?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    11. Liu, Shiyuan & Du, Jiang & Zhang, Weike & Tian, Xiaoli & Kou, Gang, 2021. "Innovation quantity or quality? The role of political connections," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    12. Tee, Chwee Ming & Pak, Mei Sen & Lee, Mei Yee & Majid, Abdul, 2021. "CEO generational differences, risk taking and political connections: Evidence from Malaysian firms," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).

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