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Quality of Public Governance and the Capital Structure of Nations and Firms

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  • Shang-Jin Wei
  • Jing Zhou

Abstract

This paper examines the role of public governance quality in determining the composition of a country’s external liabilities and the capital structure of firms. In our theory, better institutional quality tends to promote a higher share of foreign direct investment and equity investment in total foreign liabilities, and a higher share of long-term debt within the debt/loan category. Similar prediction holds for the capital structure of firms. We conduct extensive empirical investigation by exploring both firm level data and country level data and find supportive evidence for these predictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Shang-Jin Wei & Jing Zhou, 2018. "Quality of Public Governance and the Capital Structure of Nations and Firms," NBER Working Papers 24184, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:24184
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    Cited by:

    1. Anh‐Tuan Doan & Bich‐Thanh Truong & Chi‐Cuong Nguyen & Phan‐Tam‐Nhu Nguyen & Hai‐Yen Truong & Anh‐Tuan Le, 2023. "Corruption and corporate leverage in an emerging economy: The role of economic freedom," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(2), pages 599-629, June.
    2. Uroš Herman & Tobias Krahnke, 2022. "Determinants and Effects of Countries’ External Capital Structure: A Firm-Level Analysis," IMF Working Papers 2022/038, International Monetary Fund.
    3. Wang, Jian & Wu, Jason, 2021. "Is capital flow management effective? Evidence based on U.S. monetary policy shocks," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    4. Wang, Jin-Meng & Cheng, Teng Yuan, 2023. "Do the differences in legal systems hinder international enterprises’ debt financing?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    5. Yusuf Daiyabu Abdulkarim & Nor Aziah Abdul Manaf & Hafizah Mohamad Hsbollah, 2022. "Validating Public Governance Quality Measurement Scale with Application to Domestic Private Investment in Renewable Energy for Electricity Generation," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(2), pages 360-368, March.
    6. Chang Ma & Shang-Jin Wei, 2020. "International Equity and Debt Flows: Composition, Crisis, and Controls," NBER Working Papers 27129, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Ding, Haoyuan & Jin, Yuying & Koedijk, Kees G. & Wang, Yunjin, 2020. "Valuation effect of capital account liberalization: Evidence from the Chinese stock market," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    8. Ding, Haoyuan & Jin, Yuying & Jin, Zeyang & Nie, Guangyu, 2024. "Winners and losers from financial sector openness: A Firm’s international exposure matters," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F3 - International Economics - - International Finance
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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