Macro Uncertainties and Tests of Capital Structure Theories across Renewable and Non-Renewable Resource Companies

Deni Irawan (denny.irawan@anu.edu.au) and Tatsuyoshi Okimoto
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Deni Irawan: Institute for Economic and Social Research, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia (LPEM FEB UI); Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Australia; Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis (CAMA), Australian National University, Australia
Tatsuyoshi Okimoto: Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Australia; Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI), Japan; Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis (CAMA), Australian National University, Australia

No 202168, LPEM FEBUI Working Papers from LPEM, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia

Abstract: Capital structure is one of the most critical decisions for firms in business. This study examines the role of macro (economic and non-economic) uncertainties in affecting firms’ capital structure management. Three prominent capital structure theories are tested for global resource firms: (1) static trade-off, (2) pecking order, and (3) market timing theory. The results suggest that no single theory prevails, although both pecking order and market timing theories have certain explanatory power to explain sample firms’ financing behaviour. The pecking order theory is strongly supported by the results of the leverage target adjustment model. However, the downward cyclical patterns of pecking order coefficients suggest that the resource firms tend to choose debt financing less and less over time, particularly after 2008. The market timing theory holds strong, as indicated by the significance of macro condition (uncertainties) variables in determining sample firms’ capital structure, especially after 2008 and for non-renewable firms. However, the main proxies of the cost of debt are not statistically significant. In conclusion, this study finds that resource firms have a particular pecking order preference when they need financing, and the influence of macro uncertainties are vital in determining their capital structure.

Keywords: capital; structure; —; trade-off; theory; —; pecking; order; theory; —; market; timing; theory; —; macro; uncertainties (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E32 G32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-68, Revised 2021
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cfn, nep-fdg, nep-mac and nep-sea
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