Investigation of Optimal Capital Structure: A Panel Threshold Regression Analysis Over Egyptian Non-Financial Firms

The International Journal Of Business & Management (ISSN 2321–8916), Vol 5 Issue 10, October, 2017

15 Pages Posted: 29 Sep 2019

See all articles by Dr. Ramy William

Dr. Ramy William

National Telecom Regulatory Authority of Egypt (NTRA); Maastricht School of Management (MSM)

George Emmanuel Iatridis

University of Thessaly - Department of Economics

Date Written: October 2017

Abstract

The purpose of this quantitative research is to investigate whether non-linear effects of capital structure choice on firm value are present for the Egyptian non-financial firms, and if yes, investigate the existence of an optimal capital structure that maximizes firm value. The authors employ the advanced panel threshold regression developed by Hansen (1999) to investigate the existence of thresholds effect of firm leverage on firm value. This estimation technique is superior over the traditional non-linear regressions and has been extensively used to estimate threshold effect in different financial applications. This research is intended to fill literature gap where there is lack of empirical studies investigating the existence of optimal capital structure in Egypt. Too, inclusion of political uncertainty among controlling variables falls outside the conventional use of firm-specific variables; the action that best suits the Egyptian market that was subject to political changes during the past years. Outcome of this study shall contribute to better understanding of implications of the choice of capital structure as one of the important and complex decisions in finance. Research results revealed robust, linear and negative effect of firm leverage on firm value in the presence of four controlling variables (firm size, assets growth, sales growth and political uncertainty). Firm value is found to be affected by firm size, assets growth and political uncertainty.

Keywords: Optimal Capital Structure, Information Asymmetry, Political Uncertainty, Fixed-Effect Panel Threshold Regression, Egypt

JEL Classification: G32

Suggested Citation

William Hanna, Dr. Ramy and Iatridis, George Emmanuel, Investigation of Optimal Capital Structure: A Panel Threshold Regression Analysis Over Egyptian Non-Financial Firms (October 2017). The International Journal Of Business & Management (ISSN 2321–8916), Vol 5 Issue 10, October, 2017, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3405949

Dr. Ramy William Hanna (Contact Author)

National Telecom Regulatory Authority of Egypt (NTRA) ( email )

Smart Village, B4.
Cairo Alex Desert Road
Giza
Egypt
1227302345 (Phone)
1123 (Fax)

Maastricht School of Management (MSM) ( email )

Endepolsdomein 150
Maastricht, Limburg 6201 BE
Netherlands

George Emmanuel Iatridis

University of Thessaly - Department of Economics

Volos 38221
Greece

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