Leverage, corporate governance, and export intensity of heterogeneous firms: micro-level evidence for Pakistan

Abstract

This study attempts to analyse the impact of leverage and corporate governance on export intensity of manufacturing firms quoted on Pakistan stock exchange for period 2013-2019. The results of a two-step system GMM method show that leverage has a negative relationship to export intensity. We find evidence that a firm's age negatively impacts the export sales to total sales ratio, while profitability has a positive connection with it. Finally, we note that board size exhibits a negative relationship with export intensity. These findings suggest important policy implications for export promotion, specifically for a small-open economy.