Capital structure dynamics of US-based multinationals (MNCs) and domestic (DCs) firms

Abstract

This thesis is an empirical investigation of three related capital structure dynamics of US-based multinationals and their domestic counterparts. Specifically, the thesis examined whether there are differences in capital structure adjustment speed between US-based Multinationals (hereafter, MNCs) and Domestic Corporations (hereafter, DCs), and if so, what theoretical factors contribute to the differences. At an industry level, the thesis examine whether or not industries of US-based Multinationals (MNCs) and their domestic counterparts (DCs) have different speed of capital structure adjustment toward the target level, particularly the manufacturing industry. And at the macro level, the thesis estimates the effect of macroeconomic factors (commercial paper spread, growth in aggregate capital expenditure of nonfinancial firms, and consumer price index (CPI)), and macroeconomic conditions defined by GDP, default spread, unemployment and price-output ratio on capital structure dynamics of US-based MNCs relative to DCs. Various econometric techniques were employed in the thesis to test the hypothesis that capital structure dynamics of US-based MNCs differ from DCs. Using fixed effect instrumental variables (FEIV), the empirical results shows that on average, DCs adjust to target leverage faster than MNCs. Similarly, the results support existences of capital structure differences among industries for MNCs and DCs.