IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/ijfiec/v29y2024i1p1042-1056.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Ethical commitment, institutional investors and financial performance: Malaysian evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmad Firdhauz Zainul Abidin
  • Hafiza Aishah Hashim
  • Akmalia Mohamad Ariff
  • Waleed M. Al‐ahdal

Abstract

This study investigates whether institutional investors moderate the relationship between ethical commitment and financial performance amongst Malaysian companies. Through the role of institutional investors, the external monitoring mechanism is expected to reduce the cost associated with the agency problem amongst Malaysian companies, as shown by the lack of ethical practises. Using data from 429 publicly listed companies on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia from 2012 to 2021, the results show that companies with higher ETHICS have better financial performance than companies with lower ETHICS. However, the findings on the moderating effect of institutional investors cannot be proven. By separating the sample based on pre‐MCCG 2017, institutional investors were found to have an association between ETHICS and performance, but no evidence was found during the period post‐MCCG 2017. This study adds to the perspective of agency theory in the academic literature, of which companies can create values by being committed to higher ethical practises. Results on the moderating effect of institutional investors provide perspective on external monitoring mechanisms in the Malaysian market because they are found to have a monitoring role in enhancing corporate performance. However, such a role decreases after the introduction of MCCG 2017. This study provides insights for Malaysian regulators on the necessity to keep promoting ethical practises and transparency amongst companies to achieve the goals of the National Anti‐Corruption Plan 2019–2023. The ethical practises, however, are not limited to listed companies, and regulators should also consider monitoring the institutions within the capital market.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmad Firdhauz Zainul Abidin & Hafiza Aishah Hashim & Akmalia Mohamad Ariff & Waleed M. Al‐ahdal, 2024. "Ethical commitment, institutional investors and financial performance: Malaysian evidence," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(1), pages 1042-1056, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:ijfiec:v:29:y:2024:i:1:p:1042-1056
    DOI: 10.1002/ijfe.2720
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.2720
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/ijfe.2720?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jinhan Pae & Tae Choi, 2011. "Corporate Governance, Commitment to Business Ethics, and Firm Valuation: Evidence from the Korean Stock Market," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 100(2), pages 323-348, May.
    2. Effiezal Aswadi Abdul Wahab & effiezal.wahab@gmail.com & Janice How, 2008. "Corporate Governance and Institutional Investors: Evidence from Malaysia," Asian Academy of Management Journal of Accounting and Finance (AAMJAF), Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, vol. 4(2), pages 67-90.
    3. Hutchinson, Marion & Seamer, Michael & Chapple, Larelle (Ellie), 2015. "Institutional Investors, Risk/Performance and Corporate Governance," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 31-52.
    4. Daniel Hoechle, 2007. "Robust standard errors for panel regressions with cross-sectional dependence," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 7(3), pages 281-312, September.
    5. Tae Choi & Jinchul Jung, 2008. "Ethical Commitment, Financial Performance, and Valuation: An Empirical Investigation of Korean Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 81(2), pages 447-463, August.
    6. Ling Jong & Poh-Ling Ho, 2018. "Inside the family firms: The impact of family and institutional ownership on executive remuneration," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(1), pages 1432095-143, January.
    7. Pascual Berrone & Jordi Surroca & Josep Tribó, 2007. "Corporate Ethical Identity as a Determinant of Firm Performance: A Test of the Mediating Role of Stakeholder Satisfaction," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 76(1), pages 35-53, November.
    8. Samuel Jebaraj Benjamin & Mazlina Mat Zain & Effiezal Aswadi Abdul Wahab, 2016. "Political connections, institutional investors and dividend payouts in Malaysia," Pacific Accounting Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 28(2), pages 153-179, April.
    9. Denes, Matthew R. & Karpoff, Jonathan M. & McWilliams, Victoria B., 2017. "Thirty years of shareholder activism: A survey of empirical research," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 405-424.
    10. Faozi A. Almaqtari & Abdulwahid Hashid & Najib H. S. Farhan & Mosab I. Tabash & Waleed M. Al‐ahdal, 2022. "An empirical examination of the impact of country‐level corporate governance on profitability of Indian banks," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(2), pages 1912-1932, April.
    11. Amir Barnea & Amir Rubin, 2010. "Corporate Social Responsibility as a Conflict Between Shareholders," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 97(1), pages 71-86, November.
    12. Ronald W. Masulis & Syed Walid Reza, 2015. "Agency Problems of Corporate Philanthropy," Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 28(2), pages 592-636.
    13. Juana M. Rivera & Maria J. Muñoz & Jose M. Moneva, 2017. "Revisiting the Relationship Between Corporate Stakeholder Commitment and Social and Financial Performance," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(6), pages 482-494, November.
    14. Jeffrey M Wooldridge, 2010. "Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 2, volume 1, number 0262232588, December.
    15. Benjamin Hübel & Hendrik Scholz, 2020. "Integrating sustainability risks in asset management: the role of ESG exposures and ESG ratings," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(1), pages 52-69, February.
    16. repec:eme:mfppss:mf-03-2017-0099 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. La Porta, Rafael & Lopez-de-Silanes, Florencio & Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert, 2000. "Investor protection and corporate governance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(1-2), pages 3-27.
    18. Romlah Jaffar & Zaleha Abdul-Shukor, 2016. "The role of monitoring mechanisms towards company’s performance," Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 6(4), pages 408-428, November.
    19. Elena Platonova & Mehmet Asutay & Rob Dixon & Sabri Mohammad, 2018. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure on Financial Performance: Evidence from the GCC Islamic Banking Sector," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(2), pages 451-471, August.
    20. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    21. Hafiza Aishah Hashim & Zalailah Salleh & Izzati Shuhaimi & Nurul Ain Najwa Ismail, 2020. "The risk of financial fraud: a management perspective," Journal of Financial Crime, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(4), pages 1143-1159, June.
    22. Mohd Waliuddin Mohd Razali & Winnie Hii Sin Sin & Janifer Anak Lunyai & Josephine Yau Tan Hwang & Irma Yazreen Md Yusoff, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure and Firm Performance of Malaysian Public Listed Firms," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(9), pages 86-95, September.
    23. Barkemeyer, Ralf & Preuss, Lutz & Ohana, Marc, 2018. "Developing country firms and the challenge of corruption: Do company commitments mirror the quality of national-level institutions?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 26-39.
    24. Maretno Harjoto & Hoje Jo, 2015. "Legal vs. Normative CSR: Differential Impact on Analyst Dispersion, Stock Return Volatility, Cost of Capital, and Firm Value," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 128(1), pages 1-20, April.
    25. Hairul Azlan Annuar, 2019. "Difficulties in being responsible institutional investors: evidencefrom Malaysia," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 16(4), pages 507-520, June.
    26. Humphrey, Jacquelyn E. & Lee, Darren D. & Shen, Yaokan, 2012. "Does it cost to be sustainable?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 626-639.
    27. Ahmad Saiful Azlin Puteh Salin & Zubaidah Ismail & Malcolm Smith & Anuar Nawawi, 2019. "Board ethical commitment and corporate performance: Malaysian evidence," Journal of Financial Crime, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 26(4), pages 1146-1164, October.
    28. Ralf Barkemeyer & Lutz Preuss & Marc Ohana, 2018. "Developing country firms and the challenge of corruption: Do company commitments mirror the quality of national-level institutions?," Post-Print hal-02390172, HAL.
    29. Jae-Joon Han & Hyun Jeong Kim & Jeongmin Yu, 2016. "Empirical study on relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance in Korea," Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 61-76, December.
    30. Amy J. Hillman & Gerald D. Keim, 2001. "Shareholder value, stakeholder management, and social issues: what's the bottom line?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(2), pages 125-139, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Ferrell, Allen & Liang, Hao & Renneboog, Luc, 2016. "Socially responsible firms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(3), pages 585-606.
    2. Al-Shaer, Habiba & Uyar, Ali & Kuzey, Cemil & Karaman, Abdullah S., 2023. "Do shareholders punish or reward excessive CSR engagement? Moderating effect of cash flow and firm growth," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    3. 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.
    4. Naeem Tabassum & Satwinder Singh, 2020. "Corporate Governance and Organisational Performance," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-030-48527-6, November.
    5. Trung K. Do & Henry Hongren Huang & Te-Chien Lo, 2023. "Does corporate social responsibility affect leverage adjustments?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1569-1604, May.
    6. Byungki Kim & Jinhan Pae & Choong-Yuel Yoo, 2019. "Business Groups and Tunneling: Evidence from Corporate Charitable Contributions by Korean Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(3), pages 643-666, February.
    7. Li, Chengcheng & Wang, Xiaoqiong, 2022. "Local peer effects of corporate social responsibility," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    8. Buchanan, Bonnie G. & Cao, Cathy Xuying & Wang, Shuhui, 2021. "Corporate social responsibility and inside debt: The long game," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    9. Hans B. Christensen & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2021. "Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1176-1248, September.
    10. Van Ha Nguyen & Frank W Agbola & Bobae Choi, 2019. "Does corporate social responsibility reduce information asymmetry? Empirical evidence from Australia," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 44(2), pages 188-211, May.
    11. Massimiliano Cerciello & Francesco Busato & Simone Taddeo, 2023. "The effect of sustainable business practices on profitability. Accounting for strategic disclosure," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 802-819, March.
    12. Chunling Zhu & Ruixin Zeng & Ruxi Wang & Yihui Xiao, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility and chief executive officer wrongdoing: A fraud triangle perspective," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 874-888, March.
    13. Yasir Shahab & Chengang Ye, 2018. "Corporate social responsibility disclosure and corporate governance: empirical insights on neo-institutional framework from China," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 15(2), pages 87-103, May.
    14. Ding, Mingfa, 2014. "Political Connections and Stock Liquidity: Political Network, Hierarchy and Intervention," Knut Wicksell Working Paper Series 2014/7, Lund University, Knut Wicksell Centre for Financial Studies.
    15. Amess, Kevin & Banerji, Sanjay & Lampousis, Athanasios, 2015. "Corporate cash holdings: Causes and consequences," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 421-433.
    16. Tran, Quoc Trung, 2021. "Local corruption and dividend policy: Evidence from Vietnam," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 195-205.
    17. Kaouther Chebbi & Mohammed Abdullah Ammer, 2022. "Board Composition and ESG Disclosure in Saudi Arabia: The Moderating Role of Corporate Governance Reforms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-25, September.
    18. Ye Cai & Hoje Jo & Carrie Pan, 2012. "Doing Well While Doing Bad? CSR in Controversial Industry Sectors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 108(4), pages 467-480, July.
    19. ElBannan, Mona A., 2017. "Stock market liquidity, family ownership, and capital structure choices in an emerging country," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 201-231.
    20. Hakkon Kim & Kwangwoo Park & Doojin Ryu, 2017. "Corporate Environmental Responsibility: A Legal Origins Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 381-402, February.

    More about this item

    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:wly:ijfiec:v:29:y:2024:i:1:p:1042-1056. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/1076-9307/ .

    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.