Corporate Governance and the Dynamics of Capital Structure: New Evidence

47 Pages Posted: 28 Aug 2012

See all articles by Robin K. Chou

Robin K. Chou

National Chengchi University

Yakai Chang

National Chengchi University

Tai-Hsin Huang

National Chengchi University (NCCU)

Date Written: August 13, 2012

Abstract

The empirical literature provides the effect agency conflicts on capital structure choices. Yet previous researchers fail to recognize the impact of corporate governance quality on the adjustment speed of capital structure. Especially, this paper considers two different views (the defense effect of debt vs. the disciplining effect of debt) at the same time. For underlevered firms, bad governance firms get more disadvantages from the discipline of debt than advantages from avoiding takeover by outsiders when they increase debt. However, for overlevered firms, bad governance firms would voluntarily choose more debts to prevent potential raiders when they face the serious threat of takeover. Therefore, firms with bad governance have slower adjustment speed toward target debt level, for both under- and over- levered ones, albeit with different motivations.

Keywords: dynamic capital structure, speed of adjustment, corporate governance

JEL Classification: G32, G34

Suggested Citation

Chou, Robin K. and Chang, Yakai and Huang, Tai-Hsin, Corporate Governance and the Dynamics of Capital Structure: New Evidence (August 13, 2012). 25th Australasian Finance and Banking Conference 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2128430 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2128430

Robin K. Chou

National Chengchi University ( email )

No. 64, Chih-Nan Road
Section 2
Wenshan, Taipei, 11623
Taiwan
+886-2-29393091 ext. 81016 (Phone)

Yakai Chang (Contact Author)

National Chengchi University ( email )

No. 64, Chih-Nan Road
Section 2
Wenshan, Taipei, 11623
Taiwan

Tai-Hsin Huang

National Chengchi University (NCCU) ( email )

No. 64, Chih-Nan Road
Section 2
Wenshan, Taipei, 11623
Taiwan

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
477
Abstract Views
3,536
Rank
128,314
PlumX Metrics