Title Influence of the Business Portfolio Diversification on Construction Companies' Financial Stability
Authors Jang, Sewoong
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.6106/KJCEM.2014.15.6.105
Page pp.105-112
ISSN 1229-7534
Keywords Business Portfolio Diversification ; Financial Stability ; Vector Error Correction Model
Abstract The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the degree of business diversification of a construction company and two of the indicators that represent financial stability, namely, a current ratio and a debt ratio, in order to draw policy implications. The current ratio and the debt ratio were used as variables that represent financial stability of a construction company. Berry-Herfindahl Index was used to measure the degree of business portfolio diversification of a construction company. For the analysis, quarterly time series data were retrieved from the financial information disclosure system of Korea's Financial Supervisory Service for the period between the first quarter of 2001 and the third quarter of 2013. The analysis results showed that a higher current ratio and a debt ratio led to a greater extent of business diversification. A higher level of business diversification led to a higher current ratio and a lower debt ratio. It was also shown that the impact of business diversification on the current ratio and the debt ratio outweighed the impact of changes in the current ratio and the debt ratio on business diversification. Meanwhile, an increase in the level of business diversification showed a quite positive effect as it raised the current ratio and lowered the debt ratio of a construction company. These findings suggest that diversification of business portfolio is essential for construction companies to strengthen their financial stability.