Critique on Mm Theory Essay

It does not matter what the firms dividend policy is (Modigliani and milling machine 958). The basic assumptions of MM hypothesis atomic number 18 1 . The company only has the long-term bonds and common stocks, both bonds and stock trade in the complete ceiling market with no deed cost 2. The individual investors and bodied investors could gain the same interest rate with no liability take a chance 3. The companies with similar operating conditions have the same vocation risks 4. Investors hold the same expectations on the average business profit in future 5.All cash flows be perpetual annuities, including EBIT (Earnings before interest and tax) etc, that is, the ripening ate of the enterprise is zero (Modigliani and Miller 1958). The development of MM theory mostly experienced iii stages 1 . No-tax pretending. The first MM model takes no account of corporate taxations 2. Corporate tax model. Modigliani and Miller (1963) published Corporate Income Taxes and the Cost of C apital A Correction, which loosened its initial assumptions, introduced corporate tax into MM theory(Modigliani and Miller 1963) 3.Miller model. Merton H. Miller (1976) proposed to consider corporate tax and individual tax in estimating how the debt leverage impacts the value of firm (Miller 1977). During the past 50-year, MM theory has made large academic achievements for western companies in exploring the optimal not bad(p) structure and reducing capital costs etc. Firstly, it provides a research contrive of reference and theoretical basis. Since that, most of the capital theories are base on MM theory, such as Pecking- run Theory, Trade-off Theory, and Agency Theory etc.Secondly, MM theory makes the capital structure theories systematic and builds a framework for the development of capital structure theories. Secondly, MM theory makes the capital tructure theory systematically, as on that point was not a system of traditional capital structure theory. Last, but not least, it is only a general description of the traditional capital structure theory. While MM theory uses modern analytical methods, such as partial equilibrium, mathematical analysis etc, thitherfore, it makes MM theory become reliable.Despite tremendous achievements, there are still limitations in MM theory. First, the assumptions are too harsh, and most of them cannot be achieved in reality. To illustrate, MM theory assumes that individuals and corporations could borrow at the ore than what corporations do, as well as bear a high risk. Furthermore, MM theory also assumes there is no transaction cost, which extremely differs from the real transaction process. Second, the assumptions are beyond the reality, although the logic derivation is correct, the conclusions still differs.Both corporate tax model and Miller model suppose that corporation should raise the liability as more than as possible in order to maximise the value of the firm, in extremity, up to 100% liability. However, none of enterprises adopt this point. Third, MM theory stands at a static erspective, and does not consider the external economic environment and the impact on capital structure by changing enterprises production and operating conditions. In fact, many factors, which reckon the capital structures, are variable.For example, companies should cut down their liabilities appropriately in order to reduce business risks, when the socio-economic experiences a recession. According to MM theory, the value of tax saving is associated with the corporate income tax rate. That is, the higher corporate income tax rate, the more tax deductible the corporation could achieve from financing by liability. In other words, corporations are inclined to finance by liabilities rather than equity financing in relative higher corporate income tax rate countries, and vice versa.Under the actual situation in China, the corporate income tax is much higher than other countries in the world corporations should prefer fi nancing from debt theoretically (Huang and Zhang 2007). However, actually, the capital structure of Chinese enterprises runs counter to the MM theory and other capital structure theories. The proportion of liability financing in China is far less than the proportion of equity financing (Huang and Song 2006). First of all, there is only no mechanism in applying MM theory.In accordance with the MM theory, both individual and institutional investors can process arbitrage actions freely in the capital markets. In western well-developed capital markets, there is a wide range of fund-raising channels and other financing options, the arbitrage mechanisms usually affect the markets. However, at present, the market mechanism is not fully developed in China, as well as capital market is under-developed. Thus, these limit the financing options and forms make it difficult to carry out arbitrage activities. Generally, MM theory cannot be applied.