Leverage Adjustment in Manufacturing Firms: Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract

This study explores firms’ leverage behavior and speed of adjustment in the context of selected performance indicators in Pakistan’s manufacturing industry. Leverage behavior is predicted using ordinary least squares, based on four performance indicators: profitability, tangibility, size and growth. The speed of adjustment of leverage is estimated using a general linear model and partial adjustment model. We find that profitability, tangibility and growth play a significant role in leverage behavior and the speed of adjustment, although both differ across sectors. Moreover, exponential leverage adjustment appears to be better than linear leverage adjustment.