DETERMINANTS OF WORKING CAPITAL “EVIDENCE FROM PRODUCTION AND SERVICE SECTOR OF PAKISTAN”

Abstract

Purpose: Basic purpose of this study is to explore the factors or determinants of working capital. The effect of this research is threefold as its first aim is to explore the determinants of working capital in the service sector, second is to find the determinant of working capital in the production sector and third is to make a comparison between the findings of both sectors.
 Research Methodology: Quantitative technique of data collection has been used under explanatory research method and working capital has been taken as dependent variable while return on assets, return on equity, leverage, sales growth, firm size of total assets and firm size of total sales have been taken as independent variables from production and services sector of Pakistan. A sample of 34 companies listed at KSE for 5 years (2007-2011) has been selected with a total observation of 170. Datawerecollectedfrombalancesheetsofthese companies fromofficialsiteofStateBankof Pakistan.
 Findings: The finding of this research shows that the same selected variables are not a significant predictor of working capital in both sectors. In the service sector, all selected variables are significant predictor or working capital except for short term debt to total assets variable. However, in the production sector, only sales growth and return on assets is a significant predictor of working capital requirement.
 Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: In a developing country like in Pakistan, very little work has been done on working capital determinants. In developed countries and other developing countries, enough work has been done in that area, however, not previously study covers the comparison of the diverse sectors to determine working capital. This study will add a new dimension to the existing literature and cover the gaps in existing literature byaddingthe comparisonofdiverse nature sectors into the existing literature.