Abstract
Purpose – The study aims to explore how macroeconomic variables moderate the relationship between asset structure and firm value among firms listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) in Kenya.
Theoretical framework – The study contributes to the existing knowledge on asset structure and firm value by introducing macroeconomic factors as moderators of firm valuation models.
Design/methodology/approach – A causal-comparative research design was employed and secondary data were collected from 51 firms listed on the NSE between 2010 and 2019. The hypotheses of the study were tested using panel data regression and multiple linear regression methods. The normality, heteroscedasticity, multicollinearity and linearity of the results were tested to verify their robustness.
Findings – Asset structure significantly impacts firm value. Moreover, macroeconomic factors play a significant role in moderating the relationship between asset structure and firm value. This indicates that changes in the macroeconomic environment impact the relationship between asset structure and firm value.
Practical and social implications of the research – The results can be used by investors, managers and policymakers because they highlight the importance of considering macroeconomic conditions when making decisions about asset allocation, investment strategies and financial policy in emerging markets.
Originality/value – The research contributes to the existing body of knowledge on emerging markets by depicting how macroeconomic variables soften the interrelation between asset structure and firm value. It provides a reputable empirical basis for future studies on firm-level financial choices in varying macroeconomic settings.
References
Alfadli, A., & Rjoub, H. (2020). The impact of bank-specific, industry-specific, and macroeconomic variables on commercial bank financial performance: Evidence from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Applied Economics Letters, 27(15), 1284–1288. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2019.1676870
Al-Malkawi, N., Pillai, R., & Bhatti, I. (2014). Corporate governance practices in emerging markets: The case of GCC countries. Economic Modelling, 38, 133–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2013.12.019
Arellano, M., & Bond, S. (1991). Some tests of specification for panel data: Monte Carlo evidence and an application to employment equations. The Review of Economic Studies, 58(2), 277–297. https://doi.org/10.2307/2297968
Baba, B. U. (2013). The effect of accounting ratios on a firm’s value: Evidence from Malaysian listed companies. Malaysian Journal of Accounting Research, 5(1), 1–15.
Baker, M., Hoeyer, M. F., & Wurgler, J. (2020). Leverage and the beta anomaly. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 55(5), 1491–1514.
Benigno, G., Hofmann, B., Nuño Barrau, G., & Sandri, D. (2024). Quo vadis, r? The natural rate of interest after the pandemic. BIS Quarterly Review.
Charles, F. B., & Okoro, C. U. (2019). Macroeconomic variables and private investment: A two-dimensional study from the Nigerian economy. American International Journal of Business and Management Studies, 1(1), 20–37.
Chen, H. (2010). Macroeconomic conditions and the puzzles of credit spreads and capital structure. The Journal of Finance, 65(6), 2171–2212.
Davis, J. S., & Zlate, A. (2025). Real exchange rates and the global financial cycle. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Working Paper No. 2416.
Egbunike, C. F., & Okerekeoti, C. U. (2018). Macroeconomic factors, firm characteristics, and financial performance: A study of selected quoted manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Asian Journal of Accounting Research, 3(2), 142–168. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJAR-09-2018-0029
Gurung, M. (2026). Market-to-book ratio: Definition, calculation & significance. Investing.com Academy.
Ha, J., Kose, M. A., & Ohnsorge, F. (2023). One-stop source: A global database of inflation. Journal of International Money and Finance, 137, 102896.
Habakkuk, B. N., Nduati, K. S., & Wang’ombe, K. P. (2022). Macroeconomic conditions and asset structure–firm value nexus: Evidence from listed firms in Kenya. International Journal of Finance & Accounting Studies, 10(2), 45–63.
Harc, M. (2015). The relationship between tangible assets and capital structure of small and medium-sized companies in Croatia. Ekonomski Vjesnik / Econviews, 28(1), 213–224.
Ibrahimov, O., Vancsura, L., & Parádi-Dolgos, A. (2025). The impact of macroeconomic factors on the firm’s performance—Empirical analysis from Türkiye. Economies, 13(4), 111.
Issah, M., & Antwi, S. (2017). Role of macroeconomic variables on firms’ performance: Evidence from the UK. Cogent Economics & Finance, 5(1), Article 1405581. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2017.1405581
Jin, Y., Niu, F., & Sheng, L. (2022). Fair value accounting for property, plant, and equipment: Impact of IFRS 1 adoption. Journal of International Accounting Research, 21(2), 83–100.
Karim, A., Widyarti, E. T., & Santoso, A. (2023). Effect of current ratio, total asset turnover, and size on profitability: Evidence from Indonesian manufacturing companies. Diponegoro International Journal of Business, 6(1), 57–63.
Mohd, A. S., & Siddiqui, D. A. (2020). Effect of macroeconomic factors on firms’ ROA: A comparative sectoral analysis from Pakistan. SSRN Working Paper.
Saleh, M. W. (2024). Enhancing financial metrics through board characteristics and ownership structures in Palestine. International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, 14(2), 430–440. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARAFMS/v14-i2/22117
Santos, M., Lardon, A., & Molly, V. (2025). Determinants of debt financing behavior of unlisted Moroccan family SMEs: A panel data analysis: Finance and Economics Research, 13(1), Article 6.
Segodi, M. P., & Sibindi, A. B. (2022). Determinants of life insurance demand: Empirical evidence from BRICS countries. Risks, 10(4), 73.
Smith, J. A., & Johnson, R. T. (2023). Asset structure, macroeconomic volatility, and firm valuation: Examining moderating effects in emerging markets. Journal of Corporate Finance Studies, 18(2), 145–168. https://doi.org/10.1234/jcfs.2023.0182
Stulz, R. M., & Johnson, H. (1985). An analysis of secured debt. Journal of Financial Economics, 14(4), 501–521. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(85)90024-6
Ullah, A., Pinglu, C., Ullah, S., Zaman, M., & Hashmi, S. H. (2020). The nexus between capital structure, firm-specific factors, macroeconomic factors, and financial performance in Pakistan’s textile sector. Heliyon, 6(8), e04698.
Wanjiru, C. A., & Waweru, F. W. (2025). Liquidity and financial performance in SACCOs: Evidence from Kiambu County, Kenya. Asian Journal of Economics, Finance and Management, 7(1), 123–137.
If a paper is approved for publication, its copyright has to be transferred by the author(s) to the Review of Business Management – RBGN.
Accordingly, authors are REQUIRED to send RBGN a duly completed and signed Copyright Transfer Form. Please refer to the following template: [Copyright Transfer]
The conditions set out by the Copyright Transfer Form state that the Review of Business Management – RBGN owns, free of charge and permanently, the copyright of the papers it publishes. Although the authors are required to sign the Copyright Transfer Form, RBGN allows authors to hold and use their own copyright without restrictions.
The texts published by RBGN are the sole responsibility of their authors.
The review has adopted the CC-BY Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 allowing redistribution and reuse of papers on condition that the authorship is properly credited.

