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Business cycle effect on leverage: A study of Indian non-financial firms

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  • Pattanaik, Arpita

    (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research)

  • Rajeswari Sengupta

    (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research)

Abstract

In this paper we analyse the effect of business cycle fluctuations on firms' capital structure using a large panel of non-financial firms in India. In particular, we explore the dynamics of firm leverage across business cycle expansions and recessions for financially constrained and unconstrained firms. We find that the leverage of unconstrained firms exhibits counter-cyclical dynamics. Leverage of financially constrained firms does not show any cyclical pattern. These results are robust across different empirical methods of estimation. A healthy financial system is one where all firms are able to access the external debt market especially in a downturn. Our analysis shows that in the Indian financial system, external capital goes only to a certain category of firms. This has important policy implications for further developing the domestic financial markets and institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Pattanaik, Arpita & Rajeswari Sengupta, 2018. "Business cycle effect on leverage: A study of Indian non-financial firms," Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai Working Papers 2018-001, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, India.
    • Handle: RePEc:ind:igiwpp:2018-001
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    2. Naveed Jan & Arodh Lal Karn & Zeyun Li & Xiyu Liu, 2021. "The Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting and Firm Performance and the Moderating Role of Firm Life Cycle Stages: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-13, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capital structure; Firm leverage; Financial constraints; Business cycle; Leverage determinants; Indian firms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G1 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets

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