IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijfss/v12y2024i4p104-d1503421.html

The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Cash Holdings: The Moderating Role of Board Gender Diversity

Author

Listed:
  • Abdelmoneim Bahyeldin Mohamed Metwally

    (Department of Accounting, College of Business Administration, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
    Department of Accounting, Faculty of Commerce, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt)

  • Saleh Aly Saleh Aly

    (Department of Accounting, Faculty of Commerce, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef 62511, Egypt)

  • Mohamed Ali Shabeeb Ali

    (Department of Accounting, College of Business Administration, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
    Accounting Department, Faculty of Commerce, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt)

Abstract

This research investigates the association between corporate social responsibility and cash holdings, while also exploring the moderating effect of board gender diversity on this association. The study utilizes a dataset of non-financial firms listed on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) from 2012 to 2021, comprising a final sample of 52 firms with a total of 520 firm-year observations. A statistical analysis was performed using pooled OLS, a fixed effects regression analysis, and two-step system GMM estimations to test the research hypotheses. The results show a significant positive association between CSR and cash holdings. Further, board gender diversity is found to have a negative moderating role as it weakens the association between CSR and cash holdings. These findings are relevant for regulators, investors, and stakeholders in Egypt and other emerging markets. Companies are encouraged to prioritize gender diversity in board appointments, while regulators should track and promote female representation in all listed firms. Investors are advised to focus on boards with strong female representation and high CSR disclosure. The insights offered by this research extend the literature by examining the moderating role of gender diversity in an unexplored context, namely Egypt, which fill part of the gap in early studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdelmoneim Bahyeldin Mohamed Metwally & Saleh Aly Saleh Aly & Mohamed Ali Shabeeb Ali, 2024. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Cash Holdings: The Moderating Role of Board Gender Diversity," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-22, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:12:y:2024:i:4:p:104-:d:1503421
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/12/4/104/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/12/4/104/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Minseong Kim & Ho-Seok Kim, 2022. "Corporate Social Responsibility: What Are Foodservice Companies Reporting?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Banjade, Dhruba & Diltz, J. David, 2022. "Excess cash holdings and firm performance in new and old economy firms," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 124-133.
    3. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 2008. "Theory of the firm: managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," RAE - Revista de Administração de Empresas, FGV-EAESP Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (Brazil), vol. 48(2), April.
    4. repec:bla:jfinan:v:59:y:2004:i:4:p:1777-1804 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Alkhawaja, Abdallah & Hu, Fang & Johl, Shireenjit & Nadarajah, Sivathaasan, 2023. "Board gender diversity, quotas, and ESG disclosure: Global evidence," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    6. Ahmed Hassanein & Altan Kokel, 2022. "Corporate cash hoarding and corporate governance mechanisms: evidence from Borsa Istanbul," Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(3), pages 831-848, May.
    7. Datta, Sudip & Doan, Trang & Toscano, Francesca, 2023. "Top executive gender, corporate culture, and the value of corporate cash holdings," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    8. Patten, Dennis M., 1992. "Intra-industry environmental disclosures in response to the Alaskan oil spill: A note on legitimacy theory," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 471-475, July.
    9. Hyun Ah Kim & Nam Chul Jung, 2022. "Related Party Transactions and Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-19, June.
    10. Kim, Sooin & Yoo, Jungmin, 2022. "Corporate Opacity, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Financial Performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    11. Jadiyappa, Nemiraja & Joseph, Anto & Sisodia, Garima & Krishnankutty, Raveesh & Shrivatsava, Santosh, 2021. "Corporate social responsibility and cash holdings in India: Evidence from a natural experiment," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    12. Diego Prior & Jordi Surroca & Josep A. Tribó, 2008. "Are Socially Responsible Managers Really Ethical? Exploring the Relationship Between Earnings Management and Corporate Social Responsibility," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(3), pages 160-177, May.
    13. Maurizio La Rocca & Tiziana La Rocca & Raffaele Staglianò & Pino Vecellio & Fabiola Montalto, 2019. "Gender diversity, cash holdings and the role of the institutional environment: empirical evidence in Europe," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(29), pages 3137-3152, June.
    14. Mohamed Arouri & Guillaume Pijourlet, 2017. "CSR Performance and the Value of Cash Holdings: International Evidence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 140(2), pages 263-284, January.
    15. Jiraporn, P. & Chintrakarn, P., 2013. "How do powerful CEOs view corporate social responsibility (CSR)? An empirical note," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 119(3), pages 344-347.
    16. Chen, Yi-Chun & Hung, Mingyi & Wang, Yongxiang, 2018. "The effect of mandatory CSR disclosure on firm profitability and social externalities: Evidence from China," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(1), pages 169-190.
    17. Huang, Jiekun & Kisgen, Darren J., 2013. "Gender and corporate finance: Are male executives overconfident relative to female executives?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(3), pages 822-839.
    18. David A. Carter & Betty J. Simkins & W. Gary Simpson, 2003. "Corporate Governance, Board Diversity, and Firm Value," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 38(1), pages 33-53, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mohammed Alomair & Abdelmoneim Bahyeldin Mohamed Metwally, 2025. "Does ESG Disclosure Matter for the Tax Avoidance–Firm Value Relationship? Evidence from an Emerging Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-19, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Franco Ernesto Rubino & Paolo Tenuta & Domenico Rocco Cambrea, 2017. "Board characteristics effects on performance in family and non-family business: a multi-theoretical approach," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 21(3), pages 623-658, September.
    2. Aastha Mittal & Shveta Singh, 2025. "Does CEO gender impact dividends in emerging economies?," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(1), pages 165-176, March.
    3. Talavera, Oleksandr & Yin, Shuxing & Zhang, Mao, 2016. "Managing the diversity: board age diversity, directors’ personal values, and bank performance," MPRA Paper 71927, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Boubaker, Sabri & Chebbi, Kaouther & Grira, Jocelyn, 2020. "Top management inside debt and corporate social responsibility? Evidence from the US," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 98-115.
    5. Camélia Radu & Nadia Smaili, 2022. "Board Gender Diversity and Corporate Response to Cyber Risk: Evidence from Cybersecurity Related Disclosure," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 177(2), pages 351-374, May.
    6. Lonkani, Ravi, 2019. "Gender differences and managerial earnings forecast bias: Are female executives less overconfident than male executives?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 18-34.
    7. Jooh Lee & Kyungyeon (Rachel) Koh, 2024. "ESG performance and firm risk in the U.S. financial firms," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(3), pages 328-344, July.
    8. Rudra P. Pradhan & S. M. R. K. Samarakoon & Rana P. Maradana & Premjit Sahoo, 2025. "Climate change disclosure and firm value in a frontier market: Exploring the determinants," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 49(2), pages 1931-1964, May.
    9. Bjuggren, Per-Olof & Nordström, Louise & Palmberg, Johanna, 2015. "Efficiency of Female Leaders in Family and Non-Family Firms," Ratio Working Papers 259, The Ratio Institute.
    10. Saibal Ghosh, 2025. "Tone at the top: leadership makeover and ESG focus in Indian private banks," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(4), pages 1112-1125, December.
    11. Paul McGuinness & Kevin Lam & João Vieito, 2015. "Gender and other major board characteristics in China: Explaining corporate dividend policy and governance," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 989-1038, December.
    12. Dah, Mustafa A. & Elgammal, Walid & Kchouri, Bilal & Marrouche, Adnan, 2025. "Do female CEOs lead more ethical firms? ESG and corporate impact," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    13. Maria Fátima Ribeiro Borges & Graça Maria do Carmo Azevedo & Jonas Oliveira, 2025. "Literature review on gender diversity in top management teams of companies and its relationship with firm performance and audit quality," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(1), pages 177-201, March.
    14. Ahsan Habib & Md Borhan Uddin Bhuiyan, 2017. "Determinants of monetary penalties for environmental violations," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(6), pages 754-775, September.
    15. McGuinness, Paul B., 2021. "Board member age, stock seasoning and the evolution of capital structure in Chinese firms," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).
    16. Jagadison K. Aier & Eun Hye Jo & Jung Wha (Jenny) Lee, 2024. "Female directors and cash holdings adjustment: Evidence from South Korea," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 64(4), pages 4217-4249, December.
    17. Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah & Saeed Akbar & Xiaoyun Zhu, 2025. "Mandatory CSR disclosure, institutional ownership and firm value: Evidence from China," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(1), pages 71-85, January.
    18. Bhaskar, Ratikant & Bansal, Shashank & Abbassi, Wajih & Pandey, Dharen Kumar, 2023. "CEO compensation and CSR: Economic implications and policy recommendations," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 232-256.
    19. Jadiyappa, Nemiraja & Joseph, Anto & Sisodia, Garima & Krishnankutty, Raveesh & Shrivatsava, Santosh, 2021. "Corporate social responsibility and cash holdings in India: Evidence from a natural experiment," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    20. Sultan Sikandar Mirza & Muhammad Ansar Majeed & Tanveer Ahsan, 2020. "Board gender diversity, competitive pressure and investment efficiency in Chinese private firms," Post-Print hal-02956320, HAL.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:12:y:2024:i:4:p:104-:d:1503421. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.