Capital Structure and Firm performance:
Empirical evidence from Vietnamese listed firms
This paper investigates the relationship between capital structure and firm
performance. The relationship has not been studied yet in the case of Vietnamese
listed firms. The result gives evidence that shows the negative linear effect of capital
structure on firm performance. This outcome is consistent with other research of Tian
and Zeitun(2007), Joshua (2007) and Majumdar and Chhibber(1999) in the context
of emerging markets; however it is not in accordance with most studies conducting in
developed countries which posit a positive relationship between capital structure and
firm performance. So, this result reaches a prominent argument that Western
theories should be adjusted when they are applied in transitional and emerging
markets. Traditional theories claim that debt can increase firm performance through
saving tax-shield, reducing agency costs of equity or informing a better prospect.
However, in typical emerging market like Vietnam, this paper argues that the benefits
of debt from tax saving may be overcome by financial distress and liquidity issue. In
addition, the monitoring role of debt is not substantial because of severe information
asymmetric and under-developed financial system.
With empirical evidence of an emerging market, this study contributes to the
theoretical perspective by providing an insight to relationship of capital structure and
firm performance in emerging market. Practically, the paper also points outs that
increasing of debt decreases firm performance due to high interest rate, exhausted
cash flow, serious asymmetric information or insignificant monitoring of debt. So
Vietnamese listed firms should be cautious when deciding to issue debt or access
bank loan to grow.