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Culture, agency costs, and governance: International evidence on capital structure

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  • Fauver, Larry
  • McDonald, Michael B.

Abstract

We examine social characteristics (individualism and risk aversion) and their interaction with firm governance and capital structure across the G20 countries from 1995 to 2009 using roughly 13,000 firms. We show that higher levels of individualism are associated with increased firm use of debt and lower cost of capital, whereas higher risk aversion has the opposite effects. Better firm-level governance substantially reduces these cultural effects, as does larger firm size, and less research-intensity at the firm. The results show that capital structure in emerging markets is considerably less affected by national culture relative to developed countries. To address endogeneity concerns, we show our results hold after using a propensity score matching procedure.

Suggested Citation

  • Fauver, Larry & McDonald, Michael B., 2015. "Culture, agency costs, and governance: International evidence on capital structure," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 1-23.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:34:y:2015:i:c:p:1-23
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2015.05.001
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    8. Vo, Xuan Vinh & Ellis, Craig, 2017. "An empirical investigation of capital structure and firm value in Vietnam," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 90-94.
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    10. Maurizio Rocca & Neha Neha & Tiziana Rocca, 2020. "Female management, overconfidence and debt maturity: European evidence," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 24(3), pages 713-747, September.
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    13. Fauver, Larry & Hung, Mingyi & Li, Xi & Taboada, Alvaro G., 2017. "Board reforms and firm value: Worldwide evidence," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(1), pages 120-142.
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    16. Houda Qasim Aleqedat & Sara Zakaria AL-Rawash, 2020. "International Journal of Business and Social Research (IJBSR)7The Impacts of Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions and Ownership Structure on Dividend Policy of Financial Sectors in Jordan," Journal of Business, LAR Center Press, vol. 5(1), pages 07-25, January.
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    Keywords

    Capital structure; Culture; Agency costs; Governance; International;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F3 - International Economics - - International Finance
    • F39 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Other

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