The Moderating Role of Firm Size in the Impact of Global Economic Policy Uncertainty on Firm Value: Evidence from Selective Pricing Theory

Authors

https://doi.org/10.48313/iee.v1i3.65

Abstract

The past two decades have been marked by some of the most turbulent episodes in modern economic history. These crises have disrupted the traditional structure of the global economy by influencing economic policies worldwide, leading to a substantial rise in Global Economic Policy Uncertainty (GEPU). This phenomenon has affected national economies as well as individual firms, ultimately influencing firm value. Accordingly, this study investigates the impact of Global Economic Policy Uncertainty on firm value within the unique economic environment of Iran. Firm value is measured using Tobin’s Q ratio. Furthermore, drawing upon Selective Pricing Theory, the study examines the moderating role of firm size in this relationship. To this end, panel data from 116 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) over the period 2005–2023 were analyzed using multivariate panel regression techniques. The findings reveal that Global Economic Policy Uncertainty has a positive and statistically significant effect on firm value. In addition, firm size weakens the positive relationship between Global Economic Policy Uncertainty and firm value. These findings suggest, first, that the Iranian economy demonstrates a relative degree of resilience to global economic policy uncertainty, lending support to the safe-haven hypothesis. Second, they indicate that periods of heightened global economic policy uncertainty may create greater opportunities for firm growth and profitability. Moreover, the results imply that smaller firms may be relatively more resilient during periods of global uncertainty, highlighting the importance of organizational flexibility in times of international crises. The findings provide valuable insights for domestic and foreign investors, financial analysts, corporate managers, and major shareholders involved in corporate governance and strategic decision-making.

Keywords:

Global economic policy uncertainty , Firm value, Firm size, Tobin’s Q, Selective pricing theory

References

  1. [1] Akhgar, M. O., Sajjadi, Z., & Rasooli kordestani, n. (2023). Uncertainty in Economic Policy and Corporate Risk-taking: Product Market Competition, Financial Friction, and Financialization. Accounting and Auditing Review, 30(4), 614-658. https://doi.org/10.22059/acctgrev.2023.363421.1008845

  2. [2] Banimahd, B., Royaee, R., & Moshtagh Kahnamouei, M. (2022). Economic Uncertainty and Earnings Management: Evidences from listed Companies at Tehran Stock Exchange. Accounting and Auditing Research, 14(54), 5-20. https://doi.org/10.22034/iaar.2022.156641

  3. [3] Porahmadi, H., & Bazobandi, A. (2018). Iran’s Nuclear Deal Analysis in The Framework of Putnam’s Two Level Game Theory. World Politics, 7(3), 79-120. https://doi.org/10.22124/wp.2018.3230

  4. [4] Chambariani, S. (2023). A Review of Economic Policy Uncertainty and Stock Price Crash Risk. The 18th International Conference on Management, Economy and Development. https://civilica.com/doc/1768703

  5. [5] Dalvand, d., khoshkar, f., & moradi, m. (2023). The Effect of Economic Policy Uncertainty on Corporate Investment. Journal of Accounting and Management Vision, 6(82), 205-223. https://www.jamv.ir/article_181173_4383a62a83c444edcebbd9244101d5b3.pdf

  6. [6] Rauf Kazem Jwad Al-Rikabi, A., & Emami Meybodi, M. (2025). The impact of uncertainty in global economic policies and oil price uncertainty on economic growth in an oil-dependent economy: A case study of Iraq. Iranian Energy Economics. https://doi.org/10.22054/jiee.2025.84310.2134

  7. [7] Shaker Taheri, s. h., & khodaveisi, b. (2025). The impact of economic uncertainty on liquidity risk and stock price collapse in banks on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Journal of Accounting and Management Vision, 8(101), 117-132. https://www.jamv.ir/article_227545_0be0611a686919e444b5d3524317b4ed.pdf

  8. [8] Arabmazar, A., & NazariGovar, S. (2012). The effect of inflation uncertainty on private investment in Iran. Journal of Economic Essays: an Islamic Approach, 9(18), 59-76. https://iee.rihu.ac.ir/article_96.html

  9. [9] Fakhari, H., & Ramezani, M. (2016). Study of Relationship between Costs Behavior and Changes in Bonus for Directors. Journal of Accounting Knowledge, 7(24), 41-65. https://doi.org/10.22103/jak.2016.1433

  10. [10] Fakhari, H., Faghih, M., & Imani, K. (2021). CEO Media Exposure and Stock Price Synchronicity: Simultaneous Equations System. Journal of Accounting Advances, 13(2), 197-226. https://doi.org/10.22099/jaa.2022.42640.2212

  11. [11] Farrokhlou, A., Heidari, M. (2024). Investigating the Relationship Between Economic Policy Uncertainty and Stock Liquidity: The Moderating Role of Information Disclosure Quality in Companies Listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Modern Research Approaches in Management and Accounting, 8(28), 2398-2410. https://majournal.ir/index.php/ma/article/view/2658

  12. [12] Loni, S., Abbasian, E., & Haji, G. (2021). The Effect of Economic Policy Uncertainty on Corporate Investment: Evidence from Companies Listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Financial Research Journal, 23(2), 249-268. https://doi.org/10.22059/frj.2021.310437.1007069

  13. [13] Malek, R., & fakhari, H. (2025). The Effect of Presidential Elections on Earnings Management with the Moderating Role of Ownership Structure. Empirical Studies in Financial Accounting, 22(85), 171-206. https://doi.org/10.22054/qjma.2025.82668.2627

  14. [14] Yavarifar, A., Emami, K., & Mohammadi, T. (2024). The effects of the economic policy uncertainty shock on Iran's economy with the DSGE approach. The Journal of Economic Policy, 15(30), 38-66. https://doi.org/10.22034/epj.2023.20166.2440

  15. [15] Mohammadrezaei, F. (2023). Research Methods in Accounting: A Comprehensive Approach. Tehran, Negah Danesh.

  16. [16] Adam, N., Yacob, N., Wan Musa, W. R., Yussof, K., & Mohd Idris, S. M. (2024). The effect of global economic policy uncertainty on selected Islamic stock market returns. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 8(10), 195-210. https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.8100017

  17. [17] Ahir, H., Bloom, N., & Furceri, D. (2018). The world uncertainty index (October 29, 2018). Available at SSRN 3275033. http://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3275033

  18. [18] Caldara, D., Iacoviello, M., Molligo, P., Prestipino, A., & Raffo, A. (2019). The economic effects of trade policy uncertainty (International Finance Discussion Papers, No. 1256). Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. https://doi.org/10.17016/IFDP.2019.1256

  19. [19] Chada, S. (2023). Economic policy uncertainties and institutional ownership in India. The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, 27, e00293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeca.2023.e00293

  20. [20] Datta, S., Doan, T., & Iskandar-Datta, M. (2019). Policy uncertainty and the maturity structure of corporate debt. Journal of Financial Stability, 44, 100694.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfs.2019.100694

  21. [21] Fama, E. F. (1970). Efficient capital markets: A review of theory and empirical work. The journal of Finance, 25(2), 383-417.

  22. [22] Hao, Q., & Li, A. (2024). Economic policy uncertainty and institutional portfolio investment. Financial Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/fima.12478

  23. [23] Hoque, M. E., & Zaidi, M. A. S. (2019). The impacts of global economic policy uncertainty on stock market returns in regime switching environment: Evidence from sectoral perspectives. International Journal of Finance & Economics, 24(2), 991-1016.

  24. [24] Knight, F. H. (1921). Risk, uncertainty and profit (Vol. 31). Houghton Mifflin.

  25. [25] Londono, Juan M., Sai Ma, and Beth Anne Wilson (2025). "Costs of Rising Uncertainty," FEDS Notes. Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, April 24, 2025, https://doi.org/10.17016/2380-7172.3779

  26. [26] Tran, Q. T. (2021). Economic policy uncertainty and cost of debt financing: International evidence. The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, 57, 101419.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.najef.2021.101419

Published

2025-09-20

How to Cite

The Moderating Role of Firm Size in the Impact of Global Economic Policy Uncertainty on Firm Value: Evidence from Selective Pricing Theory. (2025). Innovations in Environmental Economics , 1(3), 258-270. https://doi.org/10.48313/iee.v1i3.65

Similar Articles

1-10 of 22

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.