The impact of Covid-19 on the finances of multinational enterprises from the perspective of Balance of Payments transactions

Abstract

Purpose: The analysis of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the finances of economic entities from the perspective of the structure of financing, investments and dividend policy. Design/methodology/approach: The research covered the countries of the EU, due to the specific type of ties between these countries. Research stages: 1. Classification of countries in terms of the selected IIP and the BP statistics and macroeconomic data in 2018–2019 (pre-pandemic period), average levels for 2018–2019 in relation to GDP; 2. Presentation of the development of selected monthly BP statistics during the pandemic period (from January 2020), in terms of: (i) changes in the share of GDP (first half of 2020 in relation to the first half of 2019); (ii) year on year changes. Research methodology: data source: Eurostat, annual, quarterly, and monthly data in million EUR, the collected statistics were adjusted to the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). Findings: At the end of November 2020, it is difficult to identify the pattern of changes to the flows of the discussed categories based on the analysis of information from the pre-pandemic period. Practical implications: The creation of a“new” division between the EU countries as a result of Covid-19 may result in a change in the priorities of functioning within the entire Union and in a change in the rules of redistribution of the EU funds. Originality and value: An original way of framing decisions on capital structure, investment decisions and dividend policy through the prism of the Balance of Payments flows.