Capital structure vs financing rules - the Visegrad Group countries

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the capital structure of stock exchange listed companies in individual countries of the Visegrad Group differs significantly, and whether these entities can be considered to be organizations implementing the principles of the golden and silver rules of accounting. Design/methodology/approach: The research hypotheses assumed were verified using appropriate statistical tools. Calculations were per-formed using the Gretl software and MS Excel. Findings: The basis for operating activity financing in the companies under examination mainly entailed equity. In practice, this means that most of the entities surveyed follow the silver, less frequently the golden (the more restrictive), rule of accounting. The results obtained for each country of the Visegrad Four differed significantly. The research conducted provides a basis for determining whether the golden and silver rules of accounting constitute factors affecting the decision-making regarding capital structure formation in companies listed in the Visegrad Group countries. The study covers companies listed in the four countries and provides a basis for further research in this area, with respect to both the sample size and the time series length. Research limitations/implications: The paper takes into account only listed companies, so its results do not explain capital structure behavior of other companies. The research is a contribution to further analyses of the capital structure, which covers all types of enterprises. Practical implications: The research conducted provides a basis for determining whether the golden and silver rules of accounting constitute factors affecting the decision-making regarding capital structure formation in companies listed in the Visegrad Group countries. The study covers companies listed in the four countries and provides a basis for further research in this area, with respect to both the sample size and the time series length. Originality/value: The most important principle of financing is that firms should try to match the characteristics of the financing as closely as possible to the characteristics of the assets being financed. Unfortunately, only a few studies on this subject can be found, especially internationally. Our research aims to fill a gap in the literature on the subject. It made possible to identify financing rules characterizing capital structure of the companies operating in different economic conditions. The study may be addressed to analysts, investors and managers of companies as well as researchers conducting research in corporate finance area.