Export Intensity and Leverage: An Empirical Analysis of Spanish SMEs

The aim of this study was to contribute to the literature debate on financial behavior and corporate capital structure by focusing on two aspects. First of all, we analyzed how the intensity of exports and therefore the percentage weight of foreign sales compared to total sales affect the leverage...

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Main Authors: David K. Chalmers, Marco Della Porta, Luca Sensini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EconJournals 2020-10-01
Series:International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues
Online Access:https://econjournals.com/index.php/ijefi/article/view/10071
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author David K. Chalmers
Marco Della Porta
Luca Sensini
author_facet David K. Chalmers
Marco Della Porta
Luca Sensini
author_sort David K. Chalmers
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this study was to contribute to the literature debate on financial behavior and corporate capital structure by focusing on two aspects. First of all, we analyzed how the intensity of exports and therefore the percentage weight of foreign sales compared to total sales affect the leverage of companies. Secondly, we have analyzed which are the most significant factors influencing the financial behavior of SMEs. The financial information for the analysis were collected from the Sabi database of Bureau Van Dijk (BVD). To select the companies to be included in the sample, we followed a methodology capable of ensuring that the sample of export oriented and non-export oriented companies was adequately represented. The overall sample size was 2000 companies. The analysis showed that export intensity has a negative and significant impact on leverage, suggesting that as exports increase, leverage decreases. In addition, profitability and business risk are negatively related to leverage, while the tangibility of the assets and growth correlates positively with leverage. Keywords: Export intensity, Leverage, profitability, Spanish SMEs JEL Classifications: G32, M16, M21 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijefi.10071
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spelling doaj.art-cb4edd474adb406c9b1923cd960249f52023-02-15T16:17:18ZengEconJournalsInternational Journal of Economics and Financial Issues2146-41382020-10-011054882Export Intensity and Leverage: An Empirical Analysis of Spanish SMEsDavid K. Chalmers0Marco Della Porta1Luca Sensini2School of Strategy and Business, UT TorontoBeLab - Business Economics Laboratory . BarcellonaDepartment of Management and Innovation System University of Salerno The aim of this study was to contribute to the literature debate on financial behavior and corporate capital structure by focusing on two aspects. First of all, we analyzed how the intensity of exports and therefore the percentage weight of foreign sales compared to total sales affect the leverage of companies. Secondly, we have analyzed which are the most significant factors influencing the financial behavior of SMEs. The financial information for the analysis were collected from the Sabi database of Bureau Van Dijk (BVD). To select the companies to be included in the sample, we followed a methodology capable of ensuring that the sample of export oriented and non-export oriented companies was adequately represented. The overall sample size was 2000 companies. The analysis showed that export intensity has a negative and significant impact on leverage, suggesting that as exports increase, leverage decreases. In addition, profitability and business risk are negatively related to leverage, while the tangibility of the assets and growth correlates positively with leverage. Keywords: Export intensity, Leverage, profitability, Spanish SMEs JEL Classifications: G32, M16, M21 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijefi.10071 https://econjournals.com/index.php/ijefi/article/view/10071
spellingShingle David K. Chalmers
Marco Della Porta
Luca Sensini
Export Intensity and Leverage: An Empirical Analysis of Spanish SMEs
International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues
title Export Intensity and Leverage: An Empirical Analysis of Spanish SMEs
title_full Export Intensity and Leverage: An Empirical Analysis of Spanish SMEs
title_fullStr Export Intensity and Leverage: An Empirical Analysis of Spanish SMEs
title_full_unstemmed Export Intensity and Leverage: An Empirical Analysis of Spanish SMEs
title_short Export Intensity and Leverage: An Empirical Analysis of Spanish SMEs
title_sort export intensity and leverage an empirical analysis of spanish smes
url https://econjournals.com/index.php/ijefi/article/view/10071
work_keys_str_mv AT davidkchalmers exportintensityandleverageanempiricalanalysisofspanishsmes
AT marcodellaporta exportintensityandleverageanempiricalanalysisofspanishsmes
AT lucasensini exportintensityandleverageanempiricalanalysisofspanishsmes