Firm size and corporate financial‐leverage choice in a developing economy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate, from an undeveloped market perspective, the nature and significance of firm size as a determinant of corporate financial leverage. Design/methodology/approach A panel data fixed‐effects regression model is used to estimate the relationship between financial leverage and firm size, while controlling also for the effects of other acclaimed determinants like asset tangibility, profitability and firm age. The dataset used covers 71 firms quoted in the Nigerian stock markets over a 17‐year period (1990‐2006). Findings The study reveals that as much as 91.4 percent of the total finances of Nigerian‐quoted firms is of short‐term liabilities, with just 8.6 percent constituting long‐term liabilities. It finds that firm size is negatively and significantly related to financial leverage. Controlling for some other determinants, the arising results tend to confirm an over‐bearing influence of the pecking order theory in the financing patterns of Nigerian‐quoted firms – by revealing that the relationship between profitability and financial leverage is highly significant and negative; and that firm‐age is positively and significantly related to financial leverage. Originality/value Using data from a country with undeveloped and inefficient financial markets, this paper provides an important insight on the international debate on the effects of size on corporate decisions.