Capital Structure and Financial Sustainability of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Northeastern Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55677/GJEFR/04-2025-Vol02E1Keywords:
Capital structure, financial sustainability, North Eastern Nigeria, sustainable growth.Abstract
This study empirically assesses the effect of capital structure on the financial sustainability of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) in Northeastern Nigeria. Using the fixed effects method, the research analysed panel data of 174 MSMEs across the six (6) states from 2018-2023. Further evidence was provided using the random effect technique. The finding shows that short-term debt negatively influences financial sustainability, while long-term debt financing may lead to sustainable performance. The result implies that MSMEs should prioritise securing long-term borrowing to enhance their performance and attain financial sustainability. Policymakers and regulators should not relent in providing long-term financing opportunities to MSMEs for consistent growth.
References
Abereijo, I. O., & Fayomi, A. O. (2005). Innovative approach to SME financing in Nigeria: A review of small and medium industries equity investment scheme (SMIEIS). Journal of Social Sciences, 11(3), 219–227.
Abor, J., & Biekpe, N. (2006). An empirical test of the agency problems and capital structure of South African quoted SMEs. The South African Journal of Accounting Research, 20(1), 51–65.
Agyei, J., Sun, S., & Abrokwah, E. (2020). Trade-off theory versus pecking order theory: Ghanaian evidence. Sage Open, 10(3), 1–13.
Al-Duais, S. D., Qasem, A., Wan-Hussin, W. N., Bamahros, H. M., Thomran, M., & Alquhaif, A. (2021). CEO characteristics, family ownership and corporate social responsibility reporting: The case of Saudi Arabia. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(21), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112237
Almulhim, A. A., & Aljughaiman, A. A. (2023). Corporate sustainability and financial performance: The moderating effect of CEO characteristics. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612664
Alshareef, M. N., & Sulimany, H. G. H. (2024). Board financial expertise and financial sustainability: Evidence from Saudi-listed firms. Sustainability (Switzerland), 16(7100). https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167100
Ardalan, K. (2017). Capital structure theory: Reconsidered. Research in International Business and Finance, 39, 696–710.
Barriga, R. H., & Escandon-barbosa, D. (2024). Synergising board dynamics, sustainability, and strategy for international success. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 7(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2742
Bogan, V. L. (2012). Capital structure and sustainability: An empirical study of microfinance institutions. Review of Economics and Statistics, 94(4), 1045–1058.
Chen, J. J. (2004). Determinants of Capital Structure of Chinese-Listed Companies. Journal of Business Research, 57, 1341–1351.
Dang, K., Ngoc, T., Nguyen, D. Van, & Le, H. T. P. (2022). How innovation and ownership concentration affect the financial sustainability of energy enterprises : Evidence from a transition economy. Heliyon, 8, e10474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10474
Di Vaio, A., Varriale, L., Lekakou, M., & Pozzoli, M. (2023). SDGs disclosure: Evidence from cruise corporations’ sustainability reporting. Corporate Governance (Bingley), 23(4), 845–866.
Ezeani, E., Kwabi, F., Salem, R., Usman, M., Alqatamin, R. M. H., & Kostov, P. (2023). Corporate board and dynamics of capital structure: Evidence from UK, France and Germany. International Journal of Finance and Economics, 28(3), 3281–3298.
Ezeani, E., Salem, R., Kwabi, F., Boutaine, K., Bilal, & Komal, B. (2022). Board monitoring and capital structure dynamics: evidence from bank-based economies. Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, 58, 473–498. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s11156-021-01000-4
Fama, E. F., & French, K. R. (2002). Testing trade-off and pecking order predictions about dividend and debt. The Review of Financial Studies, 15(1), 1–33.
Ghardallou, W. (2022). Corporate sustainability and firm performance : The moderating role of CEO education and tenure. Sustainability, 14(6), 3513. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/ 10.3390/su14063513
Githaiga, P. N., & Kosgei, J. K. (2023). Board characteristics and sustainability reporting: A case of listed firms in East Africa. Corporate Governance (Bingley), 23(1), 3–17. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-12-2021-0449
Gujarati, D. N. (2003). Basic Econometrics (Fourth Edi). McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Hausman, J. A. (1978). Specification tests in econometrics. Journal of Econometric Society, 46(6), 1251–1271.
Higgins, R. C. (1977). How much growth can a firm afford? Financial Management, 6(3), 7–16.
Hsiao, C. (1985). Benefits and limitations of panel data. Econometric Reviews, 4(1), 121–174.
Ibrahim, H. A., & Zulkafli, A. H. (2023). The speed of adjustment towards optimal capital structure: Do ownership concentration and board diversity matter? International Journal of Business and Society, 24(1), 440–458.
Kim, O., Tran, T. H. I., & Nguyen, D. U. Y. V. U. (2024). How does corporate governance affect the dynamic capital structure ? Evidence from listed family businesses in Vietnam. 59–68. https://doi.org/10.14254/1800-5845/2024.20-1.6
Kong, Y., Donkor, M., Musah, M., Nkyi, J. A., & Ampong, G. O. A. (2023). Capital structure and corporates financial sustainability : Evidence from listed non-financial entities in Ghana. Sustainability, 15(4211).
Modigliani, F., & Miller, M. H. (1963). Corporate income taxes and the cost of capital: A correction. The American Economic Review, 53(3), 433–443.
Molina-Garcia, A., Dieguez-Soto, J., Galache-Laza, M. T., & Campos-Valenzuela, M. (2022). Financial literacy in SMEs : A bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review of an emerging research field. In Review of Managerial Science (Issue 11). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
Musabayana, G. T., Mutambara, E., & Ngwenya, T. (2022). An empirical assessment of how the government policies influenced the performance of the SMEs in Zimbabwe. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 11(1), 45–69.
Myers, S. C. (1984). The Capital structure puzzle. The Journal of Finance, 39(3), 574–592.
Myers, S. C. (2001). Capital structure. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 15(2), 81–102.
Myers, S. C., & Majluf, N. S. (1984). Corporate financing and investment decisions when firms have information that investors do not have. Journal of Financial Economics, 13(2), 187–221.
Owen, R., Botelho, T., Hussain, J., & Anwar, O. (2023). Solving the SME finance puzzle: An examination of demand and supply failure in the UK. Venture Capital, 25(1), 31–63.
Özer, G., & Merter, A. K. (2023). Audit committee financial expertise, tenure, and capital structure decisions, evidence from Turkey. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, March, 55–66. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-23416-3_5
Pesaran, M. H. (2015). Time series and panel data econometrics (First Edit). Oxford University Press.
Rao, P., Kumar, S., Chavan, M., & Lim, W. M. (2021). A systematic literature review on SME financing: Trends and future directions. Journal of Small Business Management, 5(1), 1–31.
Sani, A. (2020). CEO Tenure and Financing Decisions of Nigerian Non-Financial Listed Firms: A Dynamic Panel Approach. Journal of Accounting, Business and Finance Research, 10(2), 76–83.
Sani, A., Alifiah, M. N., & Dikko, U. M. (2020). The dynamic relationship between board composition and capital structure of the Nigerian listed firms. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(11), 621–626.
Shakil, M. H., Munim, Z. H., Zamore, S., & Zamore, S. (2024). Sustainability and financial performance of transport and logistics firms : Does board gender diversity matter ? Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, 14(1), 100–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/20430795.2022.2039998
Shyam-Sunder, L., & Myers, S. C. (1999). Testing static trade-off against pecking order models of capital structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 51(2), 219–244.
Sofat, R., & Singh, S. (2017). Determinants of capital structure: an empirical study of manufacturing firms in India. International Journal of Law and Management, 59(6), 1029–1045.
Thi, N. N. (2022). SMES survival and knowledge in emerging economies: Evidence from Vietnam. Heliyon, 8(11), e11387.
Wu, Z., Gao, J., Luo, C., Xu, H., & Shi, G. (2024). How does boardroom diversity influence the relationship between ESG and firm financial performance ? International Review of Economics and Finance, 89, 713–730.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2023.10.045
Yazdanfar, D., & Öhman, P. (2020). Financial distress determinants among SMEs: Empirical evidence from Sweden. Journal of Economic Studies, 47(3), 547–560.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Global Journal of Economic and Finance Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.