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Journal of Banking & Finance Vol. 59 2015

Mixing business with politics: Political participation by entrepreneurs in China

Xunan Feng1; Anders C. Johansson2; Tianyu Zhang3

1 Southwestern University of Finance and Economics · 2 Stockholm School of Economics · 3 Chinese University of Hong Kong

Abstract

We study how Chinese private entrepreneurs benefit from participating in politics. Using original hand-collected data on listed firms controlled by private entrepreneurs, we document a significant positive relationship between political participation and subsequent change in firm performance. We also provide evidence that the change in social status cannot explain the change in performance. We then identify several ways through which firms gain preferential treatment when the controlling entrepreneur participates in politics: better access to debt financing, preferential tax treatment, more government subsidies, and superior access to regulated industries.

DOI
10.1016/j.jbankfin.2015.06.009
Volume
59
Pages
220-235
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref bibtex:phds-export.bib

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