This report evaluates and compares the evolution and the determinants of the capital structure of Brazilian firms, with a particular emphasis on external financing. One of its main conclusions is that country factors are nearly as important as firm level factors. Industry factors are not very...

This paper analyzes the structure of ownership and control of public Brazilian companies using data from 325 companies listed at the São Paulo Stock Exchange. We show a high degree of ownership concentration. The major shareholder has, on average, 41 percent of the equity capital, while the...