How Stable Are Corporate Capital Structures? International Evidence
63 Pages Posted: 22 Mar 2021
Date Written: March 6, 2021
Abstract
Using a large sample of firms from 43 markets, we find significant time-series variations in firms’ leverage ratios around the world. Industry median leverage ratios and aggregate leverage ratios also change substantially over time. Relative to actual leverage ratios, target leverage ratios estimated from the time-varying target models are much more stable. Variance decomposition shows that leverage instability is largely driven by deviations from the target. A number of firm and market characteristics are related to capital structure instability. We also find evidence consistent with firms using financing activities to adjust their leverage ratios towards the target in global markets.
Keywords: Capital structures; international markets; deviations from the target; corporate finance
JEL Classification: G15; G32
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation