Ahmad Y. Khasawneh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-7092.2019.08.34

Published: 06 August 2019

Abstract: Motivations: This research seeks to analyze the determinants of capital structure of the banking sector in Jordan taking into consideration bank business model (Islamic versus Commercial bank). The research also sheds light on the financial crises of 2007/2008 and its impact on the financing decision in the banking sector.

Novelty: Although the topic of capital structure’s determinants is well studied in non-financial firms, very few studies considered the financial firms, namely banks. Since the nature of operations and capital components for banks are totally different this research comes to fill the gap in the banking literature.

Methodology and Methods: The study uses multivariate regression techniques of panel data besides the parametric and non-parametric analysis. Three measurements of capital structure are considered: leverage ratio, long term debt ratio and short-term debt ratio, the explanatory variables are included in two sets, bank specific characteristics and economic characteristics.

Data and Empirical Analysis: Balanced panel data set was formed for 27 Jordanian banks during the period of 2003-2015. Empirically, the findings suggest a variation of capital structure determinants based on the variable of measurement. However, the analysis confirms that bank’s profitability and bank’s risk are major components of the capital structure decision regardless of its measurement variable. In addition to these two variables, liquidity, growth and taxes are important variable in the short-term debt financing, and retained earnings is important to the long-term financing. Empirically proven that Jordanian banks' capital structure decision is affected by the global financial crisis 2007/2008 and by bank type. Jordanian banks might differ in size, but this doesn't affect their policies toward the capital structure. The empirical results are consistent with the pecking order theory that profitable firms prefer to use more of their internal sources of funds rather than debt financing.

Policy Implications: Due to the importance of the capital structure decision for banks and non-banks firms and based on our finding, the policy makers in Jordan and may in other similar countries should pay attention to capital requirement regulations as the determinants of leverage among banks are different based on the business model whether commercial or Islamic.

Keywords: Banks Leverage, Financial Crises, Jordanian Banks, Islamic Versus Commercial banks, Parametric Analysis, Non – Parametric Analysis.

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