Debt Levels Research Articles

The impact of public debt on the economic growth. evidence for Kosovo

This study aims to analyze how public debt influences economic growth in Kosovo, using quarterly data from Q1 2008 to Q4 2022 and employing the generalized method of moments (GMM). The research reveals that there is a negative relationship between public debt and economic growth when other factors such as trade openness, total investment, current account balance, and primary balance are considered. Furthermore, the findings confirm an inverted “U-shaped” relationship between public debt and economic growth, indicating that the optimal debt level is between 27.75% and 36.2% of GDP.

Corporate Debt Dynamics: Sectoral Clustering Analysis Using NACE Classification in Slovakia

Research background: Many authors are currently exploring the impact of the industry on the financial structure of enterprises since there are statistically significant differences across various sectors, exposing the industry as a critical factor influencing corporate indebtedness. Clusters of sectors with homogeneous patterns of indebtedness and comparable levels of debt in various economic conditions may be determined, and, therefore, firms and their debt levels should be systematically examined and evaluated. Purpose of the article: The main aim of this paper is to evaluate the level of debt in the Slovak environment on a sample of 19,480 firms from various sectors and to identify the relationships among them to identify sectors with homogeneous patterns of indebtedness and, consequently, comprehend which sectors are the most stable and independent. Methods: Because NACE classification provides a framework for gathering and presenting statistical data based on many economic sectors, the number of input data was reduced based on cluster analysis. Using Ward's hierarchical clustering method using squared Euclidean distance, selected indebtedness ratios were used to define the sectors with comparable debt levels. To determine if there were statistically significant differences between the calculated debt ratios related to the economic sector, the Kruskal-Wallis test was performed. Subsequently, as the results indicated significant differences across various indebtedness ratios, a post hoc analysis was performed. Findings & Value added: A group of NACE activities in which enterprises are sufficiently comparable that it is appropriate to evaluate their debt levels using the chosen indebtedness ratios are considered to be in sectors C, F, G and H, which included to tertiary sector, while the sectors K, R and S may also be grouped in one cluster, while form the secondary sector. The key relevance of our findings is the benchmarking of selected sectors about indebtedness, which may be used to further examine their growth in each of the V4 nations, which is an essential area for the evolution of the European economy as a whole. Studies considering a relatively significant amount of capital structure determinants may be beneficial to owners and managers, regulators, and financial institutions since debt policy affects firm performance, value, and survival.

External Debt and Economic Growth in Sierra Leone: A Threshold Analysis

The main focus of this study is to investigate the impact of external debt on economic growth and determine the threshold level of external debt that is favourable for economic growth in Sierra Leone, within the framework of a non-linear model (quadratic function). The study employs the Ordinary Least Squares estimation technique with annual time series data for the period 1980 to 2022. The empirical findings reveal that, lagged GDP, external debt, external debt squared and investment are the main drivers of economic growth in Sierra Leone. Specifically, the result reveals that external debt, investment and lagged GDP have a positive impact on growth whilst, external debt squared has a harmful impact on growth. Furthermore, the study establishes a nonlinear relationship between external debt and economic growth. The result indicates that the optimal threshold level of external debt (as a % of GDP) in Sierra Leone is 115%. The findings reveal that, external debt below the threshold level is growth enhancing. However, the accumulation of external debt beyond the threshold level of 115% is detrimental to growth. The diagnostic result confirms that about 76% of the variation in economic growth is explained by the regressors (independent variables). Also, the granger causality test result suggests a unidirectional causality from external debt to economic growth with no reverse causality, indicating that external debt granger caused economic growth at the 5% level. Based on the findings, the study recommends that, government should develop a robust debt management policy, to keep debt levels within sustainable limits and also cultivate an economic culture of transparency, on the issue of debt management and contract negotiations.

Peran Kepemilikan Manajerial Memoderasi Tingkat Hutang, Ukuran Perusahaan, Arus Kas Operasi Terhadap Persistensi Laba

This study uses management ownership as a moderating variable to examine the effects of debt levels, firm size, and operating cash flow on earnings persistence. Quantitative approaches are employed in this study. Up to 80 samples were selected via purposive selection, with the population of this study consisting of industrials sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2019–2022. Multiple linear regression analysis models and moderated regression analysis (MRA) were used for the hypothesis testing, with the moderator variables being tested. The results of this research based on partial testing (t test) probability value of the debt level variable is 0.008. The firm size variable is 0.032. The operating cash flow variable is 0.160. The managerial ownership variable is 0.014. The degree of debt and management ownership have an interaction variable of 0.016. The interaction variable between firm size and managerial ownership is 0.010. Additionally, managerial ownership and operating cash flow interact with a coefficient of 0.132. Known that debt levels and firm size have positive effect on profit persistence, while operating cash flow has no effect on profit persistence. The moderating effect of managerial ownership can amplify the favorable impact of debt levels on earnings persistence. However, the favorable impact of company size and operating cash flow on earnings persistence cannot be amplified by managerial ownership

Debt Maturity Structure and Earning Management: Evidence from Emerging Markets

This study aims to examine the non-linear impact of debt maturity structure on earnings management (EM) in international data settings. Panel dataset of 5129 non-financial listed firms from 9 Asian Emerging Economies (AEE) is analyzed covering the period from 2000 to 2021. EM is measured using Accrual-Based Earnings Management (AEM) and Real Activity-Based Earnings Management (REM). Debt is categorized into Total Financial Debt (TFD), Short-Term Debt (STD), and Long-Term Debt (LTD). Based on fixed effect regression model, results clearly reveal presence of non-linear relationship between debt maturities and EM. The study provides the evidence that firms of AEEs are engaged in accrual as well as real earnings management to report their earnings.TFD and STD have positive where as LTD has negative impact on AEM at low debt level. In the similar vein, TFD and STD have negative where as LTD has no impact on REM. The findings also demonstrate substitution of REM for AEM at varying debt levels. This study offer valuable insight for investors, creditors, policy makers, auditors and researchers.

HOW DO DIFFERENT DEBT LEVELS INFLUENCE THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF FMCG COMPANIES IN INDIA?

This study examines the impact of capital structure on the financial performance of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) from 2011 to 2021. It focuses on how varying levels of short-term, long-term, and total debt influence key financial metrics such as Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), Earnings Per Share (EPS), and Tobin’s Q. Using regression models with panel data, the research evaluates the relationship between debt ratios and financial performance, utilizing both fixed and random effects models. The findings reveal that higher levels of debt, especially long-term debt, negatively impact financial performance. Short-term debt is more commonly used in the FMCG sector, but overall, debt tends to reduce profitability and shareholder value. Notably, Earnings Per Share (EPS) had the highest average among the performance indicators, though all debt ratios demonstrated significant negative correlations with ROA, ROE, EPS, and Tobin’s Q. The study also highlights that larger and older firms are more effective at managing the negative effects of debt, performing better financially than smaller or younger firms. It recommends that FMCG companies prioritize internal funding over debt, as high debt levels can lead to financial strain. Future research could explore the impact of capital structure in other industries or include macroeconomic factors.

Exploring Tax Strategies: Leverage and Firm Size Effect in Manufacturing Firms

The purpose of this study is to examine how leverage and firm size affect tax evasion in manufacturing companies that are listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) between 2021 and 2023. The lawful use of tax laws to lower tax obligations is known as tax avoidance. This practice has a substantial impact on state revenue, particularly in Indonesia where tax receipts are rising but the tax ratio stays low. Secondary data from financial reports of industrial firms is used in this study. By calculating business size using the natural logarithm of total assets and assessing leverage using the debt-to-asset ratio (DAR), it applies quantitative research approaches. The research results show that leverage has a significant influence on tax avoidance, where firms with higher levels of debt tend to carry out more tax reduction strategies because of the tax deduction from interest expenses. In contrast, firm size does not show a significant effect on tax avoidance, indicating that both large and small firms adopt similar tax avoidance measures. Managerial implications These findings emphasize the importance of regulatory oversight of corporate leverage and considering firm size in designing tax policies aimed at minimizing tax avoidance practices.

CAN CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE (CSP) OVERCOME INDONESIA'S CORPORATE DEBT PROBLEMS?

Based on IMF publications (2022), Indonesian companies have a risky debt level that may cause bankruptcy, so companies are required to make leverage adjustments to return the debt to its optimal level. In recent years, corporate sustainability performance (CSP) practices have been proven to improve performance and overcome financial problems such as debt by integrating sustainability aspects into business processes. Based on stakeholder theory and trade-off theory, this study aims to examine the effect of CSP on leverage adjustment and the role of competitive advantage, equity mispricing, profitability, and firm size in moderating this relationship. This study used a sample of 40 listed companies that registered on the Indonesia Stock Exchange and implemented CSP from 2019 to 2022. By using multiple linear regression analysis and moderated regression analysis, this study shows that companies with CSP can increase company leverage adjustments. Meanwhile, company characteristics such as equity mispricing and company size have proven to strengthen this relationship, but competitive advantage and profitability do not influence it. The results of this study provide theoretical and practical benefits by enhancing knowledge about CSP and leverage adjustments, as well as enabling managerial and regulatory parties to make the right decisions.

How Does Public Debt Affect Economic Growth? The Case of the New EU Member States

Purpose: This study investigates how public debt affects economic growth in eleven new EU member states in Central and South-Eastern Europe from 2000 to 2021. These countries are categorized into the Balkan, Baltic, and Visegrad groups based on their economic characteristics. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis employs a panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to explore the relationship between public debt and GDP growth, accounting for variables such as trade openness, population growth, inflation, and foreign direct investment. Findings: The results indicate a significant negative correlation between increasing public debt levels and GDP growth, with the effect being especially pronounced in Balkan countries. This negative association is evident both in the short term and long term, highlighting a greater sensitivity to public debt in less economically developed regions. Research limitations/implications: The study is limited by its use of annual data and its focus on specific geo-graphic areas. Despite these limitations, the research provides valuable insights into the complex relationship be-tween public debt and economic growth in new EU member states. Originality/value: This research offers important perspectives on the nuanced dynamics of public debt and econom-ic growth within the context of new EU member states, enhancing the understanding of these relationships in different economic settings.

Maintaining Sustainable Public Finances: The Role of Fiscal Consolidation

Fiscal consolidation became a very essential process in policymakers’ circles and also in academia, especially in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis and it seems that the necessity of fiscal consolidation is back with the post-COVID situation and also with the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. In literature, fiscal consolidation processes most of the time deal with the main aim to reduce public debt, but do we need fiscal consolidation just in times when the situation with public debt tends to get out of control? Fiscal consolidation can be justified not only in high-level debt situations when there is not enough fiscal space. Some countries, although they have moderate public debt levels, still need to implement fiscal consolidation to reform, structure, and sustain public finances. Such conditions are present in Kosovo, a country in the Western Balkans 6 and this study aims to present the role of the fiscal consolidation process for the sustainability of public finances from the perspective of Kosovo. Using the VAR model and impulse response functions, this study, through analysis at disaggregated levels for major groups of revenues and expenses, will propose an accurate fiscal consolidation process for Kosovo. The study concludes that in the case of Kosovo, in time of fiscal consolidation there is room for interventions in direct taxes, indirect taxes, and transfers & subventions expenses.

Educational proposal to address internal and external factors limiting access to financial credit in women-led enterprises, Cajamarca, Peru

Accessibility to financial credit for women-led enterprises is influenced by a set of internal and external factors. In this context, the principal objective of the study is to develop a educational proposal to address the internal and external factors limiting access to financial credit in companies led by women in Cajamarca, Peru. The study was non-experimental, transversal, of a basic type. The sample comprised 377 companies, the sampling was non-probabilistic for convenience and the technique was the survey. The results reflect the existence of predominant internal factors such as the lack of credit history (70%), the lack of documentation and required information (65%), the high levels of debt (65%) and the lack of financial education to access financing (60%); and, regarding external factors, the most predominant are the excess of requirements (84%), costs associated with maintaining an account (79%) and distrust in the financial system (62%) that make it difficult to take out financial credit. Ultimately, women entrepreneurs in Cajamarca face both internal and external obstacles that negatively impact their ability to access financing. Given this situation, a specific proposal has been developed aimed at overcoming these limitations.

WHICH DETERMINANTS EXPLAIN MUNICIPALITIES' DEBT? THE CASE OF PORTUGUESE MUNICIPALITIES FROM 2014 TO 2017

Objective: Municipality sustainability is crucial for promoting the country's wealth and the citizens' well-being. Therefore, understanding municipalities' indebtedness is relevant to avoid situations of severe financial constraints. This work aims to understand the determinants that explain Portuguese municipalities' debt levels (both total and excess of debt), after the introduction of the Regime Financeiro das Autarquias Locais e Entidades Intermunicipais (RFALEI) published in 2013 (Law no. 73/2013). Theoretical Framework: In this work, the indebtedness of Portuguese municipalities is studied, from the perspective of net debt and excess indebtedness in order to give a broader picture of this topic and to be able to characterize the main determinants that explain debt in Portuguese municipalities. Method: Municipalities' debt is measured using not only the net debt ratio (as most of the works) but also the excess of municipalities' indebtedness. Institutional, political, and financial-economic variables are analyzed to explain debt using a linear regression model with fixed effects. The sample includes all Portuguese municipalities for the period from 2014 to 2017. Results and Discussion: Results show that only institutional and financial-economic determinants are relevant to explain municipalities’ indebtedness. Municipalities with less tourism, less State transfers, and with more capital revenues are the ones more indebtedness. Beyond these factors, municipalities with more investments and less tax revenue tend to present more excess debt. Research Implications: The results of this work are useful to a group of users of the information provided by municipalities: By knowing the main reasons that lead to debt, municipal managers can somehow reduce debt; Regulatory entities can create laws to limit debt and citizens know how public money is being managed. Originality/Value: This work analyzed all Portuguese municipalities, during four years, a larger sample than used in previous works. Moreover, institutional, and financial-economic determinants are also used, in addition to political variables, and these determinants show relevance to explain municipalities' debt. Finally, we focus not only on the debt ratio but also on excess of debt which was the main concern of RFALEI.

Digital government and corporate leverage: Evidence from China

Corporate leverage is an indicator of economic health, and this topic has attracted a great deal of attention since the international financial crisis of 2008. This paper constructs a model of enterprise decision-making under a digital government and theoretically analyzes how the government digital reform impacts corporate leverage and the mechanism of this impact. Theoretical analysis has previously shown that digital reforms by governments help to ease the information asymmetry between banks and enterprises, which in turn affects the actual economic activities of enterprises. Based on these findings, the “one-stop government service” natural experiment used in this paper and the empirical analysis using a multiphase difference-in-differences (DID) method show that digital government can inhibit the short-term debt financing of enterprises while improving their long-term debt financing. This study further finds that the digital government can improve the level of long-term debt for long-term use, thereby reducing corporate leverage. By enriching the theoretical and empirical research on government digital reform, this paper contributes significant theoretical and practical insights to the literature on corporate leverage in the context of government factors.

Un análisis desagregado de la inversión empresarial desde el inicio de la pandemia

Rationale Business investment in Spain has proven considerably weak in recent years and is still below pre-pandemic levels. This article analyses investment dynamics in Spain until 2022 drawing on firm-level data from the Banco de España Central Balance Sheet Data Office. Takeaways •The disaggregated data from the Central Balance Sheet Data Office can be used to identify the characteristics of the firms that adjusted their investment patterns the most from the outbreak of the pandemic until 2022. •In this period, firms’ investment decisions became more sensitive to their economic situation (proxied here by their sales and cash flow). •Conversely, the link between firms’ investment decisions and financial position (proxied here by their debt level and debt burden) remained unchanged. •Investment by young firms proved particularly weak in the period analysed, and this led to a narrowing of the positive gap between their investment drive and that of other firms.

Assessing the Relationship between External Debt Financing and Gross Domestic Product in Ghana

The level of external debt of a country is of fundamental importance in every economy, as external debt may reflect the effectiveness and efficiency of an economy. The study was motivated by the ever-increasing rate at which Ghana has consistently borrowed from external sources. This study aimed to assess the relationship between external debt financing and gross domestic product and establish the determinants of external debt financing in Ghana. Using selected time series data (Gross domestic product, external debt, population growth, inflation, Literacy rate, export of goods and service, general government expenditure, and interest on external debt, 1978 - 2017) based on literature reviewed on the macro economy of Ghana, the study employed Autoregressive Distributed lag model (ARDL) after the Augmented Dickey-Fuller test statistic and Philip Perron proofs not to be stationary at levels but stationary at first difference. For that matter, ARDL was used to assess the impact of external debt financing on GDP to establish the determinants of external debt. Diagnostic tests which include auto-correlation, heteroscedasticity, and normality were also performed. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that, variables were related only in the short run but not related in the long run. It was recommended that, external borrowing, population growth, inflation, general government expenditure and literacy rate should be control since their coefficients proves to have negative impact on GDP and on external debts

China, the IMF, and Sovereign Debt Crises

Abstract The rise of China as a major bilateral lender has transformed the financial landscape for developing countries and, consequently, the process of resolving debt crises. We examine how China’s loans impact the response of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to countries in debt distress. We argue that China’s lending approach and its absence from creditor forums, notably the Paris Club, can complicate the IMF’s efforts in managing debt crises. When China is a major lender, the IMF cannot rely on the Paris Club to coordinate bilateral creditors, and concerns about coordination, free-riding, and borrowers’ outside options can make it more difficult to agree on an IMF program. Therefore, we expect that countries that have borrowed more from China will undergo more protracted negotiations with the IMF in a debt crisis. We test our argument using data on the number of negotiating trips by IMF staff to borrowing countries to prepare IMF loans from 2000 to 2019. We find that countries with higher levels of outstanding debt to China require a greater number of IMF negotiating trips if they are in debt distress at the time. Our findings highlight the impact of Chinese lending on the sovereign debt regime and contribute to debates about China’s engagement with multilateralism.

The Impact of Intangible Assets on Capital Structure in Asia

Past studies find evidence that the level of intangible assets is positively related to corporate borrowing in the United States. This paper explores the relationship between intangible assets and capital structure for Asian countries. We identify a positive relationship between intangible asset investment and debt levels throughout Asia. Unlike in the United States, this positive relationship appears to be significant for non-Goodwill and Goodwill intangible assets. Further, we find that the magnitude of this relationship is significantly greater for developed Asian countries than for developing ones. We explore explanations for this difference related to firm size, firm age, cash flow volatility, and a firm’s likelihood to default on its debt.

Carbon reduction through renewable energy and digitalization in emerging economies: Moderating role of public debt.

Utilizing renewable energy (RE) and embracing the digital economy (DIG) can significantly contribute to achieving economic, energy, and climate goals by promoting carbon reduction. In this regard, public debt (DEB) is particularly important since it provides the funds required to achieve these goals by investing in renewable energy and digital economy projects. Thisstudy examines the impact of public debt on the link between renewable energy and carbon emissions (CE), as well as the association between the digital economy and carbon emissions in emerging economies from 2003 to 2022. The study employed cross-sectional augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) estimation to check the relationship between the variables. The findings of our study suggest that the integration of renewable energy sources and the growth of the digital economy have a positive impact on reducing carbon emissions. On the other hand, public debt has a positive effect on carbon emissions. In addition, the findings support the notion that interaction terms (RE × DEB) and (DIG × DEB) have a diminishing effect on carbon emissions. It can be concluded that the reduction of carbon emissions is contingent upon the utilization of public debt to promote the growth of renewable energy and the digital economy. Based on our study, it is recommended that emerging economies' needs focus on boosting renewable energy usage and digital economy initiatives. Additionally, it is necessary for these economies to maintain a sustainable level of debt.

Why companies have low debt? An empirical evidence in Korea

The aim of this study is to examine the reasons why companies have been borrowing less, which has become increasingly popular recently. The study uses the method developed by Agrawal and Nagarajan (1990) [13] to select unlevered and levered companies for comparison to identify the causes of low leverage. The results of empirical analysis indicate that first, companies with low debt levels are relatively profitable, have high internal reserves, and possess future growth opportunities. Second, unlevered companies exhibit higher economic value compared to levered companies. Debt does not improve company value through low cost of capital or higher cash flow via tax shield. Third, family ownership tends to prefer low debt levels. Finally, unlevered companies have higher cash holding compared to levered companies, and this trend is maintained over long period of time. The preference for higher cash among unlevered companies has a historical basis. The companies are maintaining low debt levels for future growth opportunities and their management preference for high level of cash has remained consistent over time.

Why donors give during emergencies—An institutional analysis on government transparency

AbstractThis study employs an institutional approach to examine and explain donor‐giving to a government during emergencies. Using data from 120 countries during Covid‐19 and other sources, we tested a process transparency explanation against a performance transparency perspective. We find that a donor's decision to give to a government during emergencies is likely influenced by the availability and quality of process‐oriented fiscal information, not past performance or impact information of the government. This result indicates that it is important for governments, especially those without proper transparency institutions and practice, to establish reporting measures in process‐oriented information such as revenue sources, spending directions, and debt levels during emergencies. These insights have significant theoretical and policy implications for countries, especially developing countries, to develop government transparency.