The choice of external financing source: The role of company size and stock liquidity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18559/ebr.2023.3.800Keywords:
stock liquidity, pecking order theory, financial deficit, external financing, debt-equity choiceAbstract
This paper aims to answer whether firms of different sizes and stock liquidities differ in the choice of external sources of financing in companies listed in CEE countries. To this end the net debt issuance is regressed on the financial deficit. In regressions Pecking Order Coefficients are allowed to vary across firms with different sizes and stock liquidities. The results indicate that companies with less liquid shares prefer issuing debt to cover financial deficits more than companies with more liquid shares. This implies that stock liquidity may substitute debt issuance in alleviating the adverse effects of information asymmetry, especially in relatively small companies. This is the first study in which the relationship between liquidity and debt-equity choice is considered solely from a pecking order theory point of view. Also this is the first study in which stock liquidity effects on capital structure are studied in the CEE countries. Research results may point to the advantages of increasing the liquidity of shares which may contribute to reducing information asymmetry and thus a better allocation of resources.
Downloads
References
Altman, E. I., Hotchkiss, E. (2006). Corporate financial distress and bankruptcy (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118267806
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118267806
Amihud, Y. (2002). Illiquidity and stock returns: Cross-section and time series effects. Journal of Financial Markets, 5(1), 31–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1386-4181(01)00024-6
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1386-4181(01)00024-6
Amihud, Y., & Mendelson, H. (2000). The liquidity route to a lower cost of capital. Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, 12(4), 7–25. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6622.2000.tb00016.x
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6622.2000.tb00016.x
Bakri, M. A., Nordin, B. A. A., Tunde, M. B., & Theng, L. W. (2020). Moderating role of financial market development on the relationship between stock liquidity and dividend. Asian Academy of Management Journal of Accounting and Finance, 16(2), 77–99. https://doi.org/10.21315/aamjaf2020.16.2.4
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21315/aamjaf2020.16.2.4
Beck, T., Demirgüç-Kunt, A., & Maksimovic, V. (2005). Financial and legal constraints to growth: Does firm size matter? Journal of Finance, 60(1), 137–177. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.2005.00727.x
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.2005.00727.x
Belsley, D. A., Kuh, E., & Welsch, R. E. (1980). Regression diagnostics. Identifying influential data and source of collinearity. John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/0471725153
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/0471725153
Berger, A. N., & Udell, G. F. (1998). The economics of small business finance: The role of private equity and debt markets in the financial growth cycle. Journal of Banking and Finance, 22(6–8), 613–673. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4266(98)00038-7
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4266(98)00038-7
Bhama, V., Jain, P. K., & Yadav, S. S. (2015). Does firms’ pecking order vary during large deficits and surpluses? An empirical study on emerging economies. Procedia Economics and Finance, 30, 155–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2212-5671(15)01279-4
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2212-5671(15)01279-4
Białek-Jaworska, A. (2017). Do Polish non-financial listed companies hold cash to lend money to other firms? Economics and Business Review, 3(4), 87–110. https://doi.org/10.18559/ebr.2017.4.6
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18559/ebr.2017.4.6
Butler, A. W., Grullon, G., & Weston, J. P. (2005). Stock market liquidity and the cost of issuing equity. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 40(2), 331–348. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022109000002337
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022109000002337
Chaklader, B., & Padmapriya, B. (2021). Impact of cash surplus on firm’s capital structure: Validation of pecking order theory. Managerial Finance, 47(12), 1801–1816. https://doi.org/10.1108/MF-08-2020-0417
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/MF-08-2020-0417
Chan, K., Cheng, S., & Hameed, A. (2022). Investor heterogeneity and liquidity. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 57(7), 2798–2833. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022109022000217
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022109022000217
Chen, Z., Gao, K., & Huang, W. (2020). Stock liquidity and excess leverage. Finance Research Letters, 32, 101178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2019.04.034
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2019.04.034
Chung, K. H., & Zhang, H. (2014). A simple approximation of intraday spreads using daily data. Journal of Financial Markets, 17(1), 94–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finmar.2013.02.004
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finmar.2013.02.004
Czerwonka, L., & Jaworski, J. (2021). Capital structure determinants of small and medium-sized enterprises: Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 28(2), 277–297. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-09-2020-0326
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-09-2020-0326
Czerwonka, L., & Jaworski, J. (2022). Capital structure and its determinants in companies originating from two opposite sides of the European Union: Poland and Portugal. Economics and Business Review, 8(1), 24–49. https://doi.org/10.18559/ebr.2022.1.3
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18559/ebr.2022.1.3
Dang, T. L., Ly Ho, H., Dzung Lam, C., Thao Tran, T., & Vo, X. V. (2019). Stock liquidity and capital structure: International evidence. Cogent Economics and Finance, 7, 1587804. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2019.1587804
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2019.1587804
De Jong, A., Verbeek, M., & Verwijmeren, P. (2010). The impact of financing surpluses and large financing deficits on tests of the pecking order theory. Financial Management, 39(2), 733–756. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-053X.2010.01090.x
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-053X.2010.01090.x
Dutta, S. R., Sen, S. S., & Mukherjee, T. (2022). Stock liquidity and capital structure: Evidence from NSE listed top 100 non-finance Indian firms. Orissa Journal of Commerce, 43(1), 38–54. https://doi.org/10.54063/ojc.2022.v43i01.04
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54063/ojc.2022.v43i01.04
Fama, E. F., & French, K. R. (2002). Testing trade-off and pecking order predictions about dividends and debt. Review of Financial Studies, 15(1), 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/15.1.1
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/15.1.1
Fang, V. W., Noe, T. H., & Tice, S. (2009). Stock market liquidity and firm value. Journal of Financial Economics, 94, 150–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2008.08.007
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2008.08.007
Frank, M. Z., & Goyal, V. K. (2003). Testing the pecking order theory of capital structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 67(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-405X(02)00252-0
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-405X(02)00252-0
Halov, N. (2006). Dynamics of asymmetric information and capital structure. https://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~nhalov/Halov.pdf
View in Google Scholar
Hasan, I., Jackowicz, K., Kowalewski, O., & Kozłowski, Ł. (2017). Do local banking market structures matter for SME financing and performance? New evidence from an emerging economy. Journal of Banking and Finance, 79, 142–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2017.03.009
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2017.03.009
Ho, L., Lu, Y., & Bai, M. (2021). Liquidity and speed of leverage adjustment. Australian Journal of Management, 46(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/0312896220918913
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0312896220918913
Jiang, F., Ma, Y., & Shi, B. (2017). Stock liquidity and dividend payouts. Journal of Corporate Finance, 42, 295–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2016.12.005
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2016.12.005
Koralun-Bereźnicka, J. (2018). Firm size and debt maturity as indirect determinants of capital structure: Evidence form European panel data. Applied Economics Letters, 25(18), 1319–1322. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2017.1420869
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2017.1420869
Kumar, S., Sureka, R., & Colombage, S. (2020). Capital structure of SMEs: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis. Management Review Quarterly, 70, 535–565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-019-00175-4
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-019-00175-4
Lipson, M. L., & Mortal, S. (2009). Liquidity and capital structure. Journal of Financial Markets, 12(4), 611–644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finmar.2009.04.002
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finmar.2009.04.002
Liu, W. (2006). A liquidity-augmented capital asset pricing model. Journal of Financial Economics, 82(3), 631–671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2005.10.001
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2005.10.001
Martinez, L. B., Scherger, V., & Guercio, M. B. (2019). SMEs capital structure: Trade-off or pecking order theory: A systematic review. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 26(1), 105–132. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-12-2017-0387
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-12-2017-0387
Matuszak, P. (2020). What determines the scale of state ownership in enterprises? Some evidence from post-socialist countries. Economics and Business Review, 6(4), 95–117. https://doi.org/10.18559/ebr.2020.4.6
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18559/ebr.2020.4.6
Moritz, A., Block, J. H., & Heinz, A. (2016). Financing patterns of European SMEs—an empirical taxonomy. Venture Capital, 18(2), 115–148.
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13691066.2016.1145900
Myers, S. C., & Majluf, N. S. (1984). Corporate financing and investment decisions when firms have information that investors do not have. Journal of Financial Economics, 13(2), 187–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(84)90023-0
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(84)90023-0
Nadarajah, S., Ali, S., Liu, B., & Huang, A. (2018). Stock liquidity, corporate governance and leverage: New panel evidence. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 50, 216–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2016.11.004
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2016.11.004
Nehrebecka, N., & Dzik-Walczak, A. (2018). The dynamic model of partial adjustment of the capital structure. Meta-analysis and a case of Polish enterprises. Zbornik Radova Ekonomskog Fakultet au Rijeci, 36(1), 53–79. https://doi.org/10.18045/zbefri.2018.1.55
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18045/zbefri.2018.1.55
Neville, C., & Lucey, B. M. (2022). Financing Irish high-tech SMEs: The analysis of capital structure. International Review of Financial Analysis, 83, 102219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2022.102219
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2022.102219
Nguyen, T., Alpert, K., & Faff, R. (2021). Relative bond-stock liquidity and capital structure choices. Journal of Corporate Finance, 69, 102026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2021.102026
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2021.102026
Nguyen, T. D. K., & Ramachandran, N. (2006). Capital structure in small and medium-sized enterprises: The case of Vietnam. ASEAN Economic Bulletin, 23(2), 192–211.
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1355/AE23-2D
Petersen, M. A. (2009). Estimating standard errors in finance panel data sets: Comparing approaches. Review of Financial Studies, 22(1), 435–480.
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/hhn053
Pham, T. P., Singh, H., & Vu, V. H. (2023). The impact of bank loan announcements on stock liquidity. International Review of Economics and Finance, 86, 848–864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2023.02.009
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2023.02.009
Qu, W., Wongchoti, U., Wu, F., & Chen, Y. (2018). Does information asymmetry lead to higher debt financing? Evidence from China during the NTS reform period. Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies, 25(1), 109–121. https://doi.org/10.1108/jabes-04-2018-0006
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JABES-04-2018-0006
Rashid, A., & Mehmood, H. (2017). Liquidity and capital structure: The case of Pakistani non-financial firms. Economics Bulletin, 37(2), 675–685.
View in Google Scholar
Shen, C. H. (2014). Pecking order, access to public debt market, and information asymmetry. International Review of Economics and Finance, 29, 291–306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2013.06.002
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2013.06.002
Shyam-Sunder, L., & Myers, S. C. (1999). Testing static tradeoff against pecking order models of capital structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 51(2), 219–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-405X(98)00051-8
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-405X(98)00051-8
Stereńczak, S., & Kubiak, J. (2022). Dividend policy and stock liquidity: Lessons from Central and Eastern Europe. Research in International Business and Finance, 62, 101727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2022.101727
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2022.101727
Stiglitz, J. E., & Weiss, A. (1981). Credit rationing in markets with imperfect information. The American Economic Review, 71(3), 393–410.
View in Google Scholar
Wang, X., & Wei, S. (2021). Does the investment horizon of institutional investors matter for stock liquidity? International Review of Financial Analysis, 74, 101648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2020.101648
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2020.101648
Downloads
Published
Versions
- 2023-09-04 (2)
- 2023-08-28 (1)
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Szymon Streńczak, Jarosław Kubiak

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
