Geopolitical risk, proximity, and corporate cash holdings: Evidence from Korea

Geopolitical risk and corporate cash Holdings in China: Precautionary motive and agency problem perspectives

PurposeThis study aims to examine the influence of geopolitical risk (GPR) on corporate cash holdings in an emerging market, India. It also investigates whether the effect of GPR on cash holdings varies across financially constrained and unconstrained firms, and across the different sectors.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses the fixed-effect regression model to examine the effect of GPR on the corporate cash holdings of 2090 Indian firms from 2003 to 2021. To correct the potential endogeneity issue and ensure the robustness of the results, this study uses two-stage least squares regression, alternative cash holdings proxies, GPR measures and across the different periods (Global financial crisis and COVID-19).FindingsThe paper finds that GPR has a positive impact on the cash holdings of Indian firms. The authors also find that the positive relationship between GPR and cash holdings is consistent for financially constrained and unconstrained firms. Furthermore, the results also show that firms in the construction sector maintain higher cash reserves than other sectors.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first-ever studies which examines the effect of GPR on corporate cash holding for an emerging economy like India. The use of alternative measures of cash holding, GPR, and estimation methods make this study more robust.

Cash holdings and cash flows: Do oil price uncertainty and geopolitical risk matter?

This study investigates the effect of geopolitical risk (GPR) on cash holdings of Korean firms. Korea’s export orientation, relationship with North Korea, and weak corporate governance together form the basis for studying the relationship between GPR and Korean firms’ cash holdings. Using samples of non-financial firms from 2001 to 2021, I find the GPR positively affects corporate cash holdings. This effect is more pronounced in firms with financial constraints, listed in the KOSDAQ (smaller and less regulated) market, and during cold market periods. My finding withstands various robustness tests including fixed effects, an instrument-variable analysis, and alternative measures of GPR. Overall, this study adds to the existing literature on corporate cash holdings by confirming that firms increase cash holdings with a precautionary motive to create a buffer against GPR-generated uncertainty.

Geopolitical risk and corporate cash holdings in the shipping industry

Corporate cash induces the opportunistic behavior of corporate managers that can create an agency problem. A corporate governance system controls the opportunistic behavior of managers and can affect the firm's policy on holding cash. This study explains how the aspects of corporate governance, country-level and firm-level governance, can affect the corporate policy on holding cash. First, the study provides the nature, definition, and importance of corporate cash holdings. Second, it outlines various motivations and theories behind holding corporate cash. Third, it explains the relation between firm-level governance and corporate cash holdings. Fourth, it focuses on the impact of firm-specific governance attributes on the level of corporate cash holdings. Fifth, it presents the relation between country-level governance and corporate cash holdings.

The impact of geopolitical risks on cash holdings of hospitality companies: Evidence from emerging countries

Analyzing the Korean market dataset of 2,958 unique non-financial firms from 2001 to 2024, we examine how different dimensions of geopolitical risk shape firms’ liquidity management. We distinguish between localized geopolitical risk, rooted in inter-Korean tensions, and broader global risk. Using a panel regression framework, we find that localized risk increases firms’ cash holdings, consistent with precautionary motives, whereas global risk reduces cash reserves, suggesting that distant shocks are perceived as less immediate and may create growth opportunities. Decomposing global risk reveals that geopolitical acts exert strong negative effects, which dominate the positive impact of geopolitical threats. These effects are more pronounced among younger and non-manufacturing firms. Crisis-interaction tests with the COVID-19 and global financial crisis periods show that firms’ liquidity decisions are crisis-dependent. Mediation analysis indicates that firms’ long-term investment serves as a transmission channel linking geopolitical risk to cash decisions. Results remain robust across alternative cash measures, additional macro controls, and after addressing endogeneity. Overall, the findings highlight that firms adjust liquidity according to the source and proximity of geopolitical risk, underscoring the need for policies that strengthen short-term liquidity under localized tensions and enhance financing flexibility under global shocks.

The present study analyses influence of board structure and cash holdings on the value of Australian firms for the period 2004 to 2010. Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) adopted the Principles of Good Corporate Governance Guidelines in 2003 and Australian firms have started adopting these principles starting 2004. Similarly the reporting framework of Australian firms is harmonized with the rest of the world with adoption of Australian International Financial Reporting Standards (AIFRS) starting in 2004. Corporate cash holdings despite their significance have not been considered extensively in prior literature outside the US. Cash holdings may have significant influence on the value of the firm as too much excess cash may lead to misuse of these funds by entrenched managers. Corporate governance has a role to play in maintaining appropriate cash holdings and their use. The present has two objectives: it considers the influence of corporate cash holdings on the value of Australian firms; and it examines the role of board structure on the relationship between cash holdings and value of the firm. The present study considers all non-financial firms that are part of the All Ordinaries Index (AOI). The present study constructs Fama French 25 portfolio and estimate the excess return as the difference between actual return and the average return of the relevant FF portfolio. OLS analyses show that board independence has no significant impact on the value of the firm though cash holdings have significant influence. Analysing using panel data methods however unearth the significant influence of board independence on the value of Australian firms.

Indian corporations were holding considerable amounts of cash and cash equivalents (CCE). Extant literature suggests that agency conflicts and financing frictions are important determinants of corporate cash holdings. This study examines the relation between cash holding and the quality of firm-level corporate governance (CG). We use 24 structural indicators of CG relating to ownership, board and boards committees, audit considerations, and leverage characteristics along with a specific set of control variables. Four different measures of corporate cash holdings and liquidity have been employed. We begin with an exploratory inquiry into the dimensions of CG using principal component analysis and then use regression to delve into the association between cash holding and CG. Our evidence suggests that the quality of firm-level CG has important implications in deciding corporate cash holdings.

Determining optimal cash holding is one of the most crucial issues in the corporate financial management aiming to maximise the shareholder value. The optimum of corporate cash amount is not only dependent on many company-specific factors, but it is also associated with both the corporate governance structure and the institutional and macroeconomic environment. Earlier research papers showed that at the macro level, companies adjust their cash holdings to the changes in the level of the inflation and, at the micro level, to the changes of the operating cycle linked to the turnover of the corporate cash flow.
 This paper investigates the determinants of corporate cash holdings for a sample of 868 firms from ten South-East European countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia and Turkey). More specifically, we investigate the influence of the inflation and the corporate operating cycle on the corporate cash holdings. Using company financial data and the country CPI for the period 2006-2015, we apply a balanced panel regression model involving the yearly change of the cash ratio as a dependent variable, and country CPI, operating cycle and other firm-specific control variables as explanatory variables.
 Results confirm that both the inflation rate and the operating cycle have substantial influence on the change of the corporate cash holdings also in the region. The relationship of the change in cash and the inflation is non-linear and best described by a U-shaped curve. That means that corporate cash holdings decrease as the level of inflation increases to a critical point but beyond that, the cash holdings start to increase. At the same time, we identified a straight linear relationship between the change in cash holdings and the length of the operating cycle. Also, we found that the change in the corporate cash holdings is positively related to the size of the company, the operating cash flow and the capital expenditures. In addition, it is inversely associated with both the change of the net working capital and the change of short and long-term debt.

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the impact of ownership by large shareholders (blockholders) on corporate cash holdings. The study further investigates heterogeneity in the relationship between blockholder ownership and corporate cash holdings.Design/methodology/approachBuilding on the precautionary and agency motives of corporate cash holdings, the study focuses on publicly listed firms from 22 European countries for the period from 2006 to 2015. Multiple pooled ordinary least square and fixed effects regression models are employed to examine the relationship between blockholder ownership and firms’ cash holdings.FindingsThis study documents a positive relationship between blockholder ownership and corporate cash holdings which indicates the role of blockholders in influencing firms’ cash holdings policies. However, further analyses show that the effect of blockholding on cash holdings depends on the type of blockholder. While the relationship is still positive between cash holdings and ownership by strategic blockholders, it turns negative for the ownership by institutional blockholders.Research limitations/implicationsThis study provides evidence for the important role played by firms’ ownership structures, and especially blockholding, in shaping firms’ cash holdings decisions. The findings are therefore of great value for investors, firms’ management and board and policy makers.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature by providing an explanation of the contradictory results documented in the literature on the impact of blockholders on corporate cash holdings. This study, to the best of the author’s knowledge, is the first to examine the effect of blockholder ownership on cash holdings by distinguishing between different types of blockholder.

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to examine factors influencing cash holding of firms during periods of crisis. In recent times, the level of cash holdings in firms has seen a steady rise across industries for diverse reasons. However, the need to study cash holding becomes even more compelling during geopolitical instability as it causes firms to hold greater cash reserves for precautionary reasons.Design/methodology/approachThis paper systematically reviews literature from 1984 to 2024 by organising the findings thematically based on the relationship between corporate cash holdings (CCH) and firm performance in times of war. The paper used 47 research articles from the Scopus database and Google Scholar. Literature connected to CCH, firm performance and war times was explored. The title and abstract analysis were conducted using VOSviewer software. As a result, the predetermined body of literature was visualised, and six theme-based clusters were identified.FindingsThis paper systematically reviews empirical studies, categorising them into six theme-based groups. These clusters encompass CCH and Determinants, Optimal Cash Holding Levels, Cash Holding Adjustment Speed and Theory, Cash Holding and Firm Value, Cash Holding and Firm Performance, Cash Holding in the Context of the Ukraine War and the adaptive financial strategies of firms in response to economic conditions by using cash holding as a hedging instrument. Inflation prompts adjustments in cash-holding strategies at a macro level. During crises, lower interest rates lead to increased cash holdings. Various motives influence firms’ cash-to-assets ratios. According to the pecking order theory, geopolitical risk negatively affects cash holdings. Exposure to pandemics prompts an increase in cash reserves. War shocks have a profound impact on economies, markets and stability; hence, geographic diversification can reduce the need for precautionary cash. In times of uncertainty, the financial stress of firms can get elevated, and therefore, having a well-diversified geographical portfolio of a firm’s investments can aid in meeting any financially distressing situation.Originality/valueThe literature on CCH has been phenomenal. This paper attempts to structure the issues surrounding cash holding and firm performance in wartime, like the Ukraine war, using the VOSviewer software. This study endeavours to highlight the reasons for cash holding during crises and understand how cash holding affects firm performance. Finally, this paper also tries to comprehend whether cash holding helps as a hedging instrument in times of war.

The resource-based view theory suggests that as firms’ resource bases differ along the corporate life cycle, even corporate policies such as cash holdings vary along the life cycle. This study seeks to understand the effect of firm’s life cycle on corporate cash holding behavior. Previous literature has sought to investigate the firm and institutional determinants of corporate cash holdings. Using the resource-based view theory, this study investigates whether corporate life cycle can be another determinant of corporate cash holdings. A panel data analysis of a sample of 112 Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed firms from 2011 to 2018 is utilized to determine if firm’s life cycle does influence cash holding behavior. Dickinson’s cash flow analysis is used to proxy life cycle stages and control other known determinants of corporate cash holdings such as firm size, leverage, profitability, dividend payments, and growth opportunities. Contrary to other studies, this study finds no significant relationship between life cycle stages and corporate cash holdings, suggesting that corporate cash holdings for South African firms are driven by other factors other than life cycle resource allocations. However, it is found that prior year cash balances, firm size, and profitability have significant positive relationships with cash holdings. It is also found that liquid asset substitutes, leverage, and investment opportunities exert a significant and negative influence on corporate cash holdings.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of firm structure (whether diversified or focused firms) on corporate cash holding. Samples of 80 non-financial companies were selected including diversified and focused firms which were listed on Karachi stock exchange for a period 7 years from 2006 to 2013. These diversified and focused firms were selected on the basis of equal proportionate method. Random effect model and descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of these variables. The results of these models showed that there is negative and significant effect of firm structure on corporate cash holding. We also find negative and significant relationship of leverage and Networking capital with the corporate cash holdings and the relation between growth opportunities and corporate cash holding was examined to be positive and significant. We also find a negative and insignificant relationship between firm size and corporate cash holding. The descriptive statistics showed that there was significant difference between the cash holding of diversified and focused firms. The diversified firms keep a smaller amount of cash as compare to the single segment companies (focused firms), which is in support of the trade-off theory. This paper contributes to current literatures with regard to organization structure (whether diversified or focused firms) on cash holding in a developing economy like Pakistan.