The effects of leverage and agency costs on firm performance: empirical research on manufacturing firms in Vietnam

The article examines how firm leverage affects firm performance in the context of high and low agency costs. It explores the agency theory’s proposition that loans can mitigate the agency problem between shareholders and managers while potentially exacerbating the problem between shareholders and lenders. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Secondary data from financial reports in Finn Pro and other sources was collected.