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Secrecy, information shocks, and corporate investment: Evidence from European Union countries

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  • Mazboudi, Mohamad
  • Hasan, Iftekhar

Abstract

This study examines how national culture affects corporate investment. We argue that national culture affects corporate investment efficiency through the level of secrecy that national culture exhibits. Using a sample of firms from eight culturally-diverse European Union countries, we find that the level of secrecy that national culture exhibits is negatively related to corporate investment efficiency after controlling for a number of firm- and country-level factors. We also find that the negative relation between national culture and corporate investment efficiency is mitigated by an exogenous shock to the information asymmetry problem between managers and investors. Our study highlights the importance of the cultural value of secrecy/transparency as a determinant of investment efficiency at the firm-level.

Suggested Citation

  • Mazboudi, Mohamad & Hasan, Iftekhar, 2018. "Secrecy, information shocks, and corporate investment: Evidence from European Union countries," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 166-176.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intfin:v:54:y:2018:i:c:p:166-176
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intfin.2017.11.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Abou Tanos, Barbara & Farooq, Omar & Ahmed, Neveen, 2024. "Secrecy culture and sensitivity of investment to stock prices: Evidence from emerging markets," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    2. Trinh, Quoc Dat & Haddad, Christian & Tran, Kim Thuan, 2022. "Financial reporting quality and dividend policy: New evidence from an international level," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    3. Fotios Pasiouras & Elie Bouri & David Roubaud & Emilios Galariotis, 2021. "Culture and Multiple Firm–Bank Relationships: A Matter of Secrecy and Trust?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(1), pages 221-249, November.
    4. Machokoto, Michael, 2024. "The impact of cultural orientation towards secrecy on innovation," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    5. Boonlert-U-Thai, Kriengkrai & Kitiwong, Weerapong & Suttipun, Muttanachai, 2025. "Religiosity, secrecy culture, and corporate social responsibility report assurance," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    6. Karim Ben Khediri, 2021. "CSR and investment efficiency in Western European countries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1769-1784, November.
    7. Anagnostopoulou, Seraina C., 2024. "Accruals quality and efficient investing: Cross-country evidence," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    8. Makrychoriti, Panagiota & Pasiouras, Fotios, 2021. "National culture and central bank transparency: Cross-country evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    9. Gaganis, Chrysovalantis & Leledakis, George N. & Pasiouras, Fotios & Pyrgiotakis, Emmanouil G., 2025. "National culture of secrecy and stock price synchronicity: Cross-country evidence," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    10. Bertrand, Jérémie & Klein, Paul-Olivier & Pasiouras, Fotios, 2024. "National culture of secrecy and firms’ access to credit," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    11. Akron, Sagi & Demir, Ender & Díez-Esteban, José María & García-Gómez, Conrado Diego, 2022. "How does uncertainty affect corporate investment inefficiency? Evidence from Europe," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    12. Goodell, John W. & Goyal, Abhinav & Hasan, Iftekhar, 2020. "Comparing financial transparency between for-profit and nonprofit suppliers of public goods: Evidence from microfinance," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    13. Cimini, Francesco & Kalantzis, Fotios, 2024. "The impact of the digital and green transitions on investment inefficiency," EIB Working Papers 2024/04, European Investment Bank (EIB).
    14. Harakeh, Mostafa, 2020. "Dividend policy and corporate investment under information shocks," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    15. Knetsch, Andreas & Salzmann, Astrid, 2022. "Societal trust and corporate underinvestment," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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