The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) finance on financing constraints of non-SOE firms in emerging markets

PurposeThis study investigates the impact of AI finance on financing constraints of non-SOE firms in an emerging market.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of non-SOE listed companies in China from 2011 to 2018, this research employs the cash–cash flow sensitivity model to examine the effect of AI finance on financing constraints of non-SOE firms.FindingsWe find that the development of AI finance can alleviate the financing constraints of non-SOE firms. Further, we document that such effect is more pronounced for smaller firms, more innovative firms and firms in developing areas.Practical implicationsThis study suggests that emerging market countries can ease the financing constraints of non-SOE firms by promoting AI finance development.Originality/valueThis study, to the best of our knowledge, is the first one to explore the relationship between AI finance development and financing constraints of non-SOE firms in emerging markets.

Unexpected investment, tunnelling and financial constraints

PurposeBased on a sample of 1,435 Vietnamese listed firms over the period from 2005 to 2017, this study examines the sensitivity of unexpected investment to free cash flow and its mechanism.Design/methodology/approachWe tested three hypotheses using two-step system-GMM to investigate investment–cash flow sensitivity for various firm scenarios while accounting for confounding variables.FindingsFirms with negative free cash flow are more likely to engage in underinvestment; conversely, overinvestment is found primarily in firms with positive free cash flow. In terms of the mechanism, while underinvesting decisions are caused mainly by financial constraints, overinvesting behaviour primarily resulted from agency problems, typically in the form of principal-principal conflicts. Interestingly, under the impact of negative cash flow observations, financial constraints tend to decrease investment–cash flow sensitivity. Conversely, the agency costs hypothesis reveals that agency problems are more likely to increase investment–cash flow sensitivity.Originality/valueThese findings not only contribute to the current corporate literature but also provide some important practical implications for stock market investors, corporate managers, and policy-setting bodies, specifically in the Vietnamese market.

Financial Constraints across Pakistani Listed Firms

Using Q investment model to scrutinize investment-cash flow sensitivity, a measure of financial constraint, has been a subject of controversy in literature. By using an alternative model called Error Correction model, this study aims to check the sensitivity between firm’s internal finance and investment level for the case of lower middle income country. Literature has shown that firms’ specific characteristics affect the relation between investment and cash flow of the firms. By considering the unique characteristics of Pakistani corporate sector, this study further target to check whether the investment-cash flow sensitivity differs across size of the firms, group affiliation of the firms and dividend policy of the firms. Our findings indicate that Pakistani listed firms are financially constrained. We find a strong relationship between investment and cash flow for small and non-dividend-paying firms; whereas group-affiliation does not affect investment- cash flow sensitivity of firms.

How does the internal capital market influence R&D spending? New evidence

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine whether and how internal capital markets mitigate financial constraints and enhance firms' willingness to engage in R&D projects.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses panel data relating to 2,095 publicly traded firms in the Chinese A-share market for the period 2007–2019. The tobit regression method is applied to explore R&D investment–cash flow sensitivity of group affiliates, while the systematic generalised method of moments and dynamic ordinary least squares models are adopted to address the endogeneity problem in the robustness test.FindingsThis study finds that firms affiliated with business groups demonstrate lower R&D investment–cash flow sensitivity than non-affiliated firms do and that R&D investments are significantly influenced by the cash reserves of other group members. In terms of financing channels, this study demonstrates that group firms use internal cash and equity financing to support other members' R&D investments, while debt financing does not influence member firms' R&D investments. In addition, this study discovers that R&D spending harms the stock and operating performance of some group members.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study enable business groups to focus on resource allocation and investment efficiency.Originality/valueAlthough prior studies indicate that internal capital markets can enhance R&D spending, few studies reveal the mechanisms through which internal capital markets benefit R&D. This study uses a unique methodology to test the ability of the internal capital market to enhance R&D spending. In addition, group firms use internal cash flow and equity financing to support partners' R&D projects.

The Indirect Impact of Busy Directors on the Relationship of Family Structure and Cash Flow Sensitivity of Cash (Empirical Research in Indonesia’s Manufacturing Sector 2013-2017)

Research aims: This research aimed to determine the impact of family structure on the cash flow sensitivity of cash (CFSC) in the manufacturing sector. It also investigates the indirect impact of busy directors as a moderating effect.Design/Methodology/Approach: Based on a sample of Indonesia’s manufacturing companies from 2013 to 2017, the researcher uses GLS regression models on this panel data calculated with robustness fit test at the firm’s level.Research findings: It indicated that family structure has a impact positively on cash flow sensitivity of cash and statistically significant. Meanwhile, the indirect impact of busy directors found to have a impact negatively and weakened on the relationship of family structure and CFSC, it also indiciated that quality of busy directors is an tool of corporate governance that is effectively to monitor of every family firm’s decisions.Theoretical contribution: This article enriches previous literature by justifying the impact of busy directors on the relation between every each of family’s firm decision and CFSC. Furthermore, it showed us a metric for agency problems that is the sensitivity of cash to corporate cash flows.Implication policy: Based on POJK regulations, the context of busy directors in this research refers to the roles and duties of the Board of Commissioners (BOC) which concurrently hold positions for other public companies.Research Limitation/Implication: The implications suggest that almost most of Indonesian family corporation are tend to expropriate minority by extracting rents through coporate cash flow sensitivity of cash behavior.