The Financing Behaviour of Firms in a Developing Economy: The Nigerian scenario

Abstract

The goal of this study is to ascertain the validity of the asymmetry of information idea in explaining the financing choice of firms in Nigeria. The sample covers 60 firms quoted in the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The Nigerian nation does not have a well developed capital market and so remain heavily on internal funding. Using a regression analysis, this study reveals that leverage is a decreasing function of profitability. This supports the pecking order theory. The current economic problems in Nigeria can be attributed not to too much reliance on financial markets, but to too little. There is some sort of misalignments between the capital market and the money market which is likely to affect the efficiency of one in meeting the financing needs of corporations. There should be complementary roles between the two markets. In Nigeria, this expected complementary roles between the two markets lag. While it makes sense, for instance for banks to brave up towards meeting the long term financing needs of firms, it is also very necessary for the other fund providers to design financing products that would help fill up arising financing gaps not covered by banks. We recommend that firms would have to device other strategic ways of diversifying their funding sources. One is by balancing their investments in both fixed and current assets.capital structure. Common stock. Expected return, financial leverage