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Capital Structure Dynamics in the UK and Continental Europe

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  • Gabrielle Wanzenried

Abstract

This paper investigates empirically the effects of institutions and market characteristics on corporate capital structure dynamics. Based on the fact that firms may temporarily deviate from their optimal capital structure due to the existence of adjustment costs, a partial adjustment model is used that links these transaction costs to country-specific characteristics such as the development of the financial markets, legal system, and macroeconomic environment. The sample comprises data from 873 firms in France, Germany, Italy and the UK over the period from 1982 to 2002. The results support the hypotheses that more developed financial markets, greater efficiency of the legal system and better protection of shareholders all have a positive effect on the speed at which firms adjust their capital structure towards the target. Similarly, higher economic growth and a higher inflation rate positively affect the speed of adjustment to the optimal capital structure as well.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabrielle Wanzenried, 2006. "Capital Structure Dynamics in the UK and Continental Europe," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(8), pages 693-716.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurjfi:v:12:y:2006:i:8:p:693-716
    DOI: 10.1080/13518470500460178
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marco Becht & Fabrizio Barca, 2001. "The control of corporate Europe," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/13302, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xia, Changyuan & Chan, Kam C. & Cao, Chunfang & Tan, Youchao, 2021. "Generalized trust, personalized trust, and dynamics of capital structure: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    2. Ferrando, Annalisa & Marchica, Maria-Teresa & Mura, Roberto, 2014. "Financial flexibility across the euro area and the UK," Working Paper Series 1630, European Central Bank.
    3. Carlos Omar Trejo-Pech & NyoNyo A. Kyaw & Wei He, 2021. "Capital structure adjustment behavior of listed firms on the Mexican stock exchange," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 45(4), pages 573-595, October.
    4. Xue, Yi & Zhang, Xinzhi, 2024. "Digital transformation and corporate capital structure: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    5. Chuong Hong Pham & Hoang Duc Le & Hung Quoc Dang & Uyen Tu Bui, 2020. "Investor Protection, Stock Liquidity, and Capital Structure," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(4), pages 357-369, July.
    6. Sakshi Khanna & Amit Srivastava & Yajulu Medury, 2015. "The Effect of Macroeconomic Variables on the Capital Structure Decisions of Indian Firms: A Vector Error Correction Model/Vector Autoregressive Approach," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 5(4), pages 968-978.
    7. Bruce Burton & Satish Kumar & Nitesh Pandey, 2020. "Twenty-five years of The European Journal of Finance (EJF): a retrospective analysis," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(18), pages 1817-1841, December.
    8. Iván Arribas & Emili Tortosa-Ausina & TingTing Zhu, 2021. "Optimal capital structure, model uncertainty, and European SMEs," Working Papers 2021/11, Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón (Spain).
    9. Ana Belen Tulcanaza-Prieto & Iliana E. Aguilar-Rodríguez & Chang Won Lee, 2022. "Customer Perception and Its Influence on the Financial Performance in the Ecuadorian Banking Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-14, June.
    10. Nicola Benatti & Annalisa Ferrando & Pierre Lamarche, 2015. "Firms’ financial statements and competitiveness: an analysis for European non-financial corporations using micro-based data," IFC Bulletins chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), Indicators to support monetary and financial stability analysis: data sources and statistical methodologies, volume 39, Bank for International Settlements.
    11. Drobetz, Wolfgang & Pensa, Pascal & Wanzenried, Gabrielle, 2007. "Firm Characteristics, Economic Conditions and Capital Structure Adjustment," Working papers 2007/16, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.

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