Trade policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: strategic implications for non-financial firms in China

This study investigates the impact of trade policy uncertainty (TPU) on the financialization of non-financial firms in China. Corporate financialization is the process in which corporations prioritize financial assets and generate profits primarily via financial investments rather than product marke...

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Main Authors: Wang, Mingyao, Mohd Nor, Normaziah, Abdul Rahim, Norhuda, Khan, Faisal, Zhou, Ziyu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cogent OA 2025
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120872/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120872/1/120872.pdf
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author Wang, Mingyao
Mohd Nor, Normaziah
Abdul Rahim, Norhuda
Khan, Faisal
Zhou, Ziyu
author_facet Wang, Mingyao
Mohd Nor, Normaziah
Abdul Rahim, Norhuda
Khan, Faisal
Zhou, Ziyu
author_sort Wang, Mingyao
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study investigates the impact of trade policy uncertainty (TPU) on the financialization of non-financial firms in China. Corporate financialization is the process in which corporations prioritize financial assets and generate profits primarily via financial investments rather than product markets. Using 27,339 firm-year observations of China A-share listed companies from unbalanced panel data spanning from 2011-Q1 to 2020-Q4, we utilized the fixed effect model (FEM), instrumental variables–two-stage least squares (IV-2SLS), and generalized method of moments (GMM) approaches. The findings reveal a positive relationship between TPU and corporate financialization. Financing constraints and risk-taking play moderating roles in shaping this relationship. Notably, as TPU rises, companies tend to avoid increasing investment in derivatives. Instead, they expand their precautionary savings by retaining larger amounts of cash. This analysis emphasizes the significance of legislators in ensuring policy stability and fostering a secure business environment. Furthermore, the robustness of these results was sustained when alternative key variables and methodologies were applied.
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spelling upm-1208722025-10-14T04:22:27Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120872/ Trade policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: strategic implications for non-financial firms in China Wang, Mingyao Mohd Nor, Normaziah Abdul Rahim, Norhuda Khan, Faisal Zhou, Ziyu This study investigates the impact of trade policy uncertainty (TPU) on the financialization of non-financial firms in China. Corporate financialization is the process in which corporations prioritize financial assets and generate profits primarily via financial investments rather than product markets. Using 27,339 firm-year observations of China A-share listed companies from unbalanced panel data spanning from 2011-Q1 to 2020-Q4, we utilized the fixed effect model (FEM), instrumental variables–two-stage least squares (IV-2SLS), and generalized method of moments (GMM) approaches. The findings reveal a positive relationship between TPU and corporate financialization. Financing constraints and risk-taking play moderating roles in shaping this relationship. Notably, as TPU rises, companies tend to avoid increasing investment in derivatives. Instead, they expand their precautionary savings by retaining larger amounts of cash. This analysis emphasizes the significance of legislators in ensuring policy stability and fostering a secure business environment. Furthermore, the robustness of these results was sustained when alternative key variables and methodologies were applied. Cogent OA 2025 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120872/1/120872.pdf Wang, Mingyao and Mohd Nor, Normaziah and Abdul Rahim, Norhuda and Khan, Faisal and Zhou, Ziyu (2025) Trade policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: strategic implications for non-financial firms in China. Cogent Economics and Finance, 13 (1). art. no. 2460078. pp. 1-22. ISSN 2332-2039 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23322039.2025.2460078 10.1080/23322039.2025.2460078
spellingShingle Wang, Mingyao
Mohd Nor, Normaziah
Abdul Rahim, Norhuda
Khan, Faisal
Zhou, Ziyu
Trade policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: strategic implications for non-financial firms in China
title Trade policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: strategic implications for non-financial firms in China
title_full Trade policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: strategic implications for non-financial firms in China
title_fullStr Trade policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: strategic implications for non-financial firms in China
title_full_unstemmed Trade policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: strategic implications for non-financial firms in China
title_short Trade policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: strategic implications for non-financial firms in China
title_sort trade policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: strategic implications for non-financial firms in china
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120872/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120872/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120872/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120872/1/120872.pdf