Capital structure puzzle and banks: need for a unique approach?
Qualitative Research in Financial Markets
ISSN: 1755-4179
Article publication date: 2 September 2021
Issue publication date: 19 May 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine some of the commonly proposed deviants associated with the banking industry in the context of the capital structure puzzle. The paper considers the role of guarantees, information asymmetry and other frictional factors in the context of modern financial markets and examines whether these factors deserve special consideration in solving the capital structure puzzle for banks.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors adopt the argumentation theory model proposed by Toulmin (1958) as the methodological approach in this paper.
Findings
The findings from this paper demonstrate that any solution to the capital structure puzzle, whenever available, will also solve the capital structure puzzle for banks without additional efforts. The focus of future research should be on solving the generic capital structure puzzle for a universal set of firms rather than focusing on the banking industry as a subset with unique features.
Originality/value
The paper adopts a novel methodological approach offered by argumentation theory to pursue the enquiry. To the best of the knowledge, this paper is the first paper in the finance literature that uses argumentation theory to develop a theoretical construct. The finding from this study offers guidance for the proliferation of research paradigms in the capital structure puzzle.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Author gratefully acknowledges the comments from Kousik Guhathakurta on a prior version of this paper. However, all errors or omissions are author’s responsibility.
Citation
Pandey, A. (2022), "Capital structure puzzle and banks: need for a unique approach?", Qualitative Research in Financial Markets, Vol. 14 No. 3, pp. 380-394. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRFM-09-2020-0178
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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