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Corporate Governance and Leverage: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

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  • Stefan Arping

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Zacharias Sautner

    (University of Amsterdam)

Abstract

This discussion paper led to a publication in Finance Research Letters , 2010, 7(2), 127-34. We argue that the recent corporate governance reform in the Netherlands provides a natural experiment to explore the impact of changes in corporate governance on financing policy. We find that, relative to a control sample of comparable firms outside the Netherlands, Dutch firms significantly reduced their leverage following the passage of the reform. Our findings are consistent with the view that corporate governance improvements reduce the value of debt as a disciplining device.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Arping & Zacharias Sautner, 2010. "Corporate Governance and Leverage: Evidence from a Natural Experiment," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 10-019/2, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20100019
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    Cited by:

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    3. Hayat, Raphie & Kabir Hassan, M., 2017. "Does an Islamic label indicate good corporate governance?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 159-174.
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    5. Anwer, Zaheer & Mohamad, Shamsher & Paltrinieri, Andrea & Hassan, M. Kabir, 2021. "Dividend payout policy of Shariah compliant firms: Evidence from United States," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    6. Anwer, Zaheer & Azmi, Wajahat & Mohamad, Shamsher, 2023. "Shariah screening and corporate governance: The case of constituent stocks of Dow Jones US Indices," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 976-1002.
    7. Azmi, Wajahat & Anwer, Zaheer & Mohamad, Shamsher & Shah, Mohamed Eskandar, 2019. "The substitution hypothesis of agency conflicts: Evidence on Shariah compliant equities," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 90-103.
    8. Sevin Gurarda & Emre Ozsoz & Abidin Ates, 2016. "Corporate Governance Rating and Ownership Structure in the Case of Turkey," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-16, April.
    9. Alves, Carlos F. & Guedes, Maria João, 2022. "Narcissistic leaders do not share! The relationship between top managers' narcissism and the distribution of value added," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    10. Abdullah Alsaadi, 2021. "Can Inclusion in Religious Index Membership Mitigate Earnings Management?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(2), pages 333-354, March.
    11. Rashid, Mamunur & Nur Khoirunnisaa Pg Hj Johari, Dk Siti & Izadi, Selma, 2023. "National culture and capital structure of the Shariah compliant firms: Evidence from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 949-964.
    12. Pâmela Amado Tristão & Igor Bernardi Sonza, 2021. "Increase in Leverage Driven by International Financial Reporting Standards Adoption," RAC - Revista de Administração Contemporânea (Journal of Contemporary Administration), ANPAD - Associação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Administração, vol. 25(4), pages 200157-2001.
    13. Banerjee, Suman & Humphery-Jenner, Mark, 2016. "Directors’ duties of care and the value of auditing," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 1-14.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate Governance; Corporate Leverage; Financing Policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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