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Can government intervention be both a curse and a blessing? Evidence from China's finance sector

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  • Feng, Lingbing
  • Fu, Tong
  • Kutan, Ali M.

Abstract

Earlier work views government intervention as a “grabbing hand,” whereas more recent studies report that it acts as a “helping hand.” Can government intervention be both a curse and a blessing? This paper investigates this issue by investigating the impact of government intervention on firm financing and financial corruption in China, using the 2005 World Bank Investment Climate survey data. To do so, we first use instrumental variable estimations to confirm that government intervention promotes financial access and encourage corruption. Next, we adopt a mediator model to document that government intervention promotes firms' access to finance through informal payment. The mediation effect is significant for split samples that capture different type of political and economic climate. The policy implications of the findings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Feng, Lingbing & Fu, Tong & Kutan, Ali M., 2019. "Can government intervention be both a curse and a blessing? Evidence from China's finance sector," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 71-81.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:61:y:2019:i:c:p:71-81
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2018.10.010
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Access to finance; Corruption; Government intervention; Investment climate survey;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation

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