Determinants of Sticky Cost Behavior

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the determinants of sticky cost behavior including adjustment costs, agency costs, political costs and corporate governance in the companies listed in the Tehran Stock Exchange, using the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Method: The sample included 1695 company-year in the years 2006-2017. The Smart_PLS program was used to obtain a good-fit model of cost behavior, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to construct measurement models to validate the latent variables underlying the cost behavior model. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and multiple regression analysis were used to identify the determinants of cost stickiness. Results: The results showed that adjustment costs and agency costs are positively correlated with the degree of cost stickiness, but political costs and corporate governance are negatively correlated with the degree of cost stickiness. Conclusion: The results of this study are useful for managers to understand cost behavior needed for planning, controlling and reducing costs.

Keywords

• sticky cost behavior
• agency costs
• political costs
• corporate governance