Article Details
  • Published Online:
    April  2025
  • Product Name:
    The IUP Journal of Accounting Research & Audit Practices
  • Product Type:
    Article
  • Product Code:
    IJARAP060425
  • DOI:
    10.71329/IUPJARAP/2025.24.2.125-142
  • Author Name:
    Megbaru Tesfaw Molla and Ratinder Kaur
  • Availability:
    YES
  • Subject/Domain:
    Finance
  • Download Format:
    PDF
  • Pages:
    125-142
Volume 24, Issue 2, April 2025
Effect of Capital Structure on the Financial Performance of MFIs in Ethiopia
Abstract

The paper investigates the effect of capital structure on Ethiopian microfinance institutions’ (MFIs) financial performance using two financial performance indicators (return on asset and return on equity) as dependent variables and four capital structure variables (debt-to-equity ratio, debt-to-asset ratio, interest coverage ratio and liquidity ratio) as independent variables. A sample of 24 MFIs was selected out of 34 MFIs in Ethiopia, and data covering the years 2013-14 to 2022-23 were used. Panel data was employed; the method of analysis was multiple regression, and the method of estimation was both fixed effect and random effect. The findings revealed that while debt-to-equity ratio, debt-to-asset ratio and interest coverage ratio significantly affect the financial performance of MFIs, liquidity ratio does not show a meaningful effect.

Introduction

By definition, capital structure refers to the combination of debt and equity financing that makes up the sources of funds for a firm.