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A contingency theory of entrepreneurial debt governance

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  • O'Brien, Jonathan
  • Sasson, Amir

Abstract

Access to debt can be crucial for entrepreneurs who need capital. Embedding economic ties within a social relationship with the debt provider can ensure capital availability and attenuate opportunism. However, such a relationship requires substantial investments in time and effort. We advance a solution to this entrepreneurial conundrum by proposing a contingency theory which prescribes aligning the fundamental transactional properties (i.e., asset specificity, uncertainty and frequency) with the nature of the entrepreneur-bank relationship (i.e., embedded versus arm's length). Our theory predicts that transactional properties affect the optimal governance of the entrepreneur-bank relationship, and that social embeddedness can transform what looks like a market transaction (e.g., a debt transaction) into a hybrid form of governance more akin to a hierarchy. Using a sample of small businesses in the U.S., we find that congruence between the optimal governance structure and the actual governance structure results in higher firm performance.

Suggested Citation

  • O'Brien, Jonathan & Sasson, Amir, 2017. "A contingency theory of entrepreneurial debt governance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 118-129.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:81:y:2017:i:c:p:118-129
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.08.011
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