Investigating the determinants of capital leverage: The case of China's real estate sector

Abstract

This study empirically investigated the determinants of capital leverage of the Chinese real estate sector. Annual panel data of 130 companies covering the period 2007-2017 were used. Profitability was treated as a latent variable to avoid any specification error. Structural equation modelling (SEM) confirmed that while the size and financial cost have a significant positive effect on the level of capital leverage; liquidity, tangibility, and non-debt tax shield (NTDS) have a significant negative effect. The findings provide supportive evidence for both the trade-off theory and the pecking order theory. An interesting outcome of our research is that despite the substantial difference in institutional structure between China and Western countries, the firm-specific determinants of leverage are partially similar between the two. The policy implications of our research are discussed in the conclusion section. © © 2020 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.