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Capital Structure in Transition: The Transformation of Financial Strategies in China's Emerging Economy

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  • Lisa A. Keister

    (Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, 300 Bricker Hall, 190 North Oval Mall, Columbus, Ohio 43215)

Abstract

During economic transition, firms must dramatically reduce their financial dependence on the state and begin to borrow from nonstate capital sources. This paper draws on institutional and resource dependence theories to examine this fundamental transformation of firm capital structure during China's transition. I propose that managers borrowed from external sources even when internal funds were available because retained earnings were considered state assets. Firms used retained earnings to signal financial health but borrowed externally to reduce dependence on the state. Uncertainty during transformation produced interfirm imitation of borrowing strategies, particularly imitation of local and high status others. I argue that the dynamics of market development shaped firm borrowing strategies and that these strategies are best viewed as trajectories over time. Analysis of survey data on the 1980–1989 capital structure of formerly state-owned firms provides support for these arguments and highlights the importance of institutional context in understanding corporate borrowing and strategic decision making.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa A. Keister, 2004. "Capital Structure in Transition: The Transformation of Financial Strategies in China's Emerging Economy," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(2), pages 145-158, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:15:y:2004:i:2:p:145-158
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1040.0043
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    14. Jinyang Hua & Paul Miesing & Mingfang Li, 2006. "An Empirical Taxonomy of SOE Governance in Transitional China," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 10(4), pages 401-433, November.
    15. Liu, Yi & Zhang, Hengyuan & Chen, Daniel Q., 2024. "On the economic implications of international travel restrictions: Evidence from Chinese MNEs’ firm value," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    16. Yu, Xiaoyu & Meng, Xiaotong & Chen, Yi & Chen, Yingying & Nguyen, Bang, 2018. "Work-family conflict, organizational ambidexterity and new venture legitimacy in emerging economies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 229-240.
    17. Joseph Ofori-Dankwa & Scott D. Julian, 2013. "Dynamism, Capital Structure, and Performance in a Sub-Saharan Economy: Extending the Institutional Difference Hypothesis," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(5), pages 1422-1438, October.
    18. Herrmann & Kim van der Putten, 2014. "Uraveling start-up processes with the help of sequence analyses," Innovation Studies Utrecht (ISU) working paper series 14-02, Utrecht University, Department of Innovation Studies, revised Jun 2014.
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    20. Lau, Chung Ming & Bruton, Garry D., 2011. "Strategic orientations and strategies of high technology ventures in two transition economies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 371-380, July.

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