THE DETERMINANTS OF CORPORATE BORROWING IN THE ARAB WORLD

This book is set to find the determinants of capital structure in the Arab world. Due to specific regional factors, the book finds mixed results on the directions, magnitudes and level of significance of a variety of theory-suggested and empirical control variables. Arab countries are divided into tax countries and non-tax countries (Gulf States), the first has a western capitalist like patterns while the later has no such clear determinants of capital structure, they however, show that the determinants of debt are those required for bank loans (sales, tangible assets and the likes). These results are consistent with the general findings in developing countries and partially with those in developed countries. Specifically, the results support the tax models of capital structure theory, while agency models are not supported and the country of origin is a significant determinant of capital structure. These findings show that capital structure theory is not portable across countries. Further research is needed to scrutinize the country specific factors effects on the theoretical models of capital structure, especially in the area of Islamic banking and Islamic financial products.

Autorentext

Mounther H. Barakat Alimari: Doctor of Philosophy-finance, Oklahoma State University, Senior Advisor at the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority, freelance consultant at prominent firms, finance professor at top tier universities, published numerous papers in refereed journals and is actively involved in writing financial regulations.