IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/riibaf/v67y2024ipas0275531923002027.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The impact of CEO power and ethical corporate citizenship on firms’ outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Ampofo, Akwasi A.
  • Barkhi, Reza

Abstract

This paper examines whether ethical corporate citizenship moderates the effect of CEO power on financial leverage, cost of debt, dividend payout, and firm value. Results show that powerful CEOs who lead WMECs are likely to borrow more money at cheaper cost of debt, and pay higher dividends compared to powerful CEOs who lead non-WMECs. CEO power is not linearly related to Tobin’s q measure of firm value. Results do not change if we include corporate governance variables on the dual role of CEO and chairperson, CEO’s tenure, and percent of shares owned by the CEO. Our findings provide important policy implications for firms disclosures on ESG activities beyond a mere compliance exercise to an effective monitoring and enforcement process that protects investors in the capital markets, similar to WMECs annually re-certified by Ethisphere.

Suggested Citation

  • Ampofo, Akwasi A. & Barkhi, Reza, 2024. "The impact of CEO power and ethical corporate citizenship on firms’ outcomes," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:67:y:2024:i:pa:s0275531923002027
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2023.102076
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0275531923002027
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ribaf.2023.102076?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Li, Zhichuan & Minor, Dylan B. & Wang, Jun & Yu, Chong, 2019. "A learning curve of the market: Chasing alpha of socially responsible firms," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    2. Myers, Stewart C. & Majluf, Nicholas S., 1984. "Corporate financing and investment decisions when firms have information that investors do not have," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 187-221, June.
    3. Fama, Eugene F & Jensen, Michael C, 1983. "Agency Problems and Residual Claims," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 26(2), pages 327-349, June.
    4. Antounian, Christelle & Dah, Mustafa A. & Harakeh, Mostafa, 2021. "Excessive managerial entrenchment, corporate governance, and firm performance," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    5. Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert W., 1989. "Management entrenchment : The case of manager-specific investments," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 123-139, November.
    6. Khondkar Karim & SangHyun Suh & Jiali Tang, 2016. "Do ethical firms create value?," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 12(1), pages 54-68, March.
    7. Berger, Philip G & Ofek, Eli & Yermack, David L, 1997. "Managerial Entrenchment and Capital Structure Decisions," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 52(4), pages 1411-1438, September.
    8. Bowman, C. & Toms, S., 2010. "Accounting for competitive advantage: The resource-based view of the firm and the labour theory of value," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 183-194.
    9. Pandej Chintrakarn & Pornsit Jiraporn & Manohar Singh, 2014. "Powerful CEOs and capital structure decisions: evidence from the CEO pay slice (CPS)," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(8), pages 564-568, May.
    10. Roberts, Michael R. & Whited, Toni M., 2013. "Endogeneity in Empirical Corporate Finance1," Handbook of the Economics of Finance, in: G.M. Constantinides & M. Harris & R. M. Stulz (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Finance, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 493-572, Elsevier.
    11. Rajan, Raghuram G & Zingales, Luigi, 1995. "What Do We Know about Capital Structure? Some Evidence from International Data," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 50(5), pages 1421-1460, December.
    12. Mark Cecchini & Robert Leitch & Caroline Strobel, 2013. "Multinational transfer pricing: A transaction cost and resource based view," Journal of Accounting Literature, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 31(1), pages 31-48, July.
    13. Kumar, Raman & Sopariwala, Parvez R., 1992. "The Effect of Adoption of Long-Term Performance Plans on Stock Prices and Accounting Numbers," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(4), pages 561-573, December.
    14. Martin Plöckinger & Ewald Aschauer & Martin R.W. Hiebl & Roman Rohatschek, 2016. "The influence of individual executives on corporate financial reporting: A review and outlook from the perspective of upper echelons theory," Journal of Accounting Literature, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 37(1), pages 55-75, October.
    15. Mark H. Hansen & Lee T. Perry & C. Shane Reese, 2004. "A Bayesian operationalization of the resource‐based view," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(13), pages 1279-1295, December.
    16. Sun, Li & Skousen, Christopher J., 2022. "CEO power and discontinued operations," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    17. Nguyen, Quang Khai, 2022. "Determinants of bank risk governance structure: A cross-country analysis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    18. Pandej Chintrakarn & Pornsit Jiraporn & Shenghui Tong, 2015. "How do powerful CEOs view corporate risk-taking? Evidence from the CEO pay slice (CPS)," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(2), pages 104-109, January.
    19. Yasir Shahab & Ammar Ali Gull & Tanveer Ahsan & Rizwan Mushtaq, 2022. "CEO power and corporate social responsibility decoupling," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(21), pages 1965-1969, December.
    20. Chintrakarn, Pandej & Chatjuthamard, Pattanaporn & Tong, Shenghui & Jiraporn, Pornsit, 2018. "How do powerful CEOs view dividends and stock repurchases? Evidence from the CEO pay slice (CPS)," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 49-64.
    21. Schopohl, Lisa & Urquhart, Andrew & Zhang, Hanxiong, 2021. "Female CFOs, leverage and the moderating role of board diversity and CEO power," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    22. Bugeja, Martin & Matolcsy, Zoltan & Spiropoulos, Helen, 2017. "The CEO pay slice: Managerial power or efficient contracting? Some indirect evidence," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 69-87.
    23. Siew − Peng Lee, 2021. "Environmental responsibility, CEO power and financial performance in the energy sector," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(8), pages 2407-2426, November.
    24. Birger Wernerfelt, 1984. "A resource‐based view of the firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(2), pages 171-180, April.
    25. 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.
    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. Sanjukta Brahma & Fotini Economou, 2024. "CEO power and corporate strategies: a review of the literature," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 62(3), pages 1069-1143, April.
    2. Wiwattanakantang, Yupana, 1999. "An empirical study on the determinants of the capital structure of Thai firms," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 7(3-4), pages 371-403, August.
    3. Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert W, 1997. "A Survey of Corporate Governance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 52(2), pages 737-783, June.
    4. Huang, Guihai & Song, Frank M., 2006. "The determinants of capital structure: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 14-36.
    5. Canarella, Giorgio & Miller, Stephen M., 2022. "Firm size, corporate debt, R&D activity, and agency costs: Exploring dynamic and non-linear effects," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).
    6. Li, Tongxia & Munir, Qaiser & Abd Karim, Mohd Rahimie, 2017. "Nonlinear relationship between CEO power and capital structure: Evidence from China's listed SMEs," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 1-21.
    7. Yacine Belghitar & Ephraim Clark & Abubakr Saeed, 2019. "Political connections and corporate financial decision making," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 1099-1133, November.
    8. Munir, Qaiser & Kok, Sook Ching & Teplova, Tamara & Li, Tongxia, 2017. "Powerful CEOs, debt financing, and leasing in Chinese SMEs: Evidence from threshold model," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 487-503.
    9. ManYing Kang & Marcel Ausloos, 2017. "An Inverse Problem Study: Credit Risk Ratings as a Determinant of Corporate Governance and Capital Structure in Emerging Markets: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies," Economies, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-23, November.
    10. Rana El Bahsh & Ali Alattar & Aziz N. Yusuf, 2018. "Firm, Industry and Country Level Determinants of Capital Structure: Evidence from Jordan," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 8(2), pages 175-190.
    11. Sjur Westgaard & Amund Eidet & Stein Frydenberg & Thor Christian Grosås, 2008. "Investigating the Capital Structure of UK Real Estate Companies," Journal of Property Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(1), pages 61-87, August.
    12. Sanjiva Prasad & Christopher J. Green & Victor Murinde, 2005. "Company Financial Structure: A Survey and Implications for Developing Economies," Chapters, in: Christopher J. Green & Colin Kirkpatrick & Victor Murinde (ed.), Finance and Development, chapter 12, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    13. 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.
    14. Ivo Welch, 2004. "Capital Structure and Stock Returns," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 112(1), pages 106-131, February.
    15. Tu Nguyen & H.G. (Lily) Nguyen & Xiangkang Yin, 2015. "Corporate Governance and Corporate Financing and Investment during the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 44(1), pages 115-146, March.
    16. Pravish Kumar Nunkoo & Agyenim Boateng, 2010. "The empirical determinants of target capital structure and adjustment to long-run target: evidence from Canadian firms," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(10), pages 983-990.
    17. Md. Faruk Hossain & Md. Ayub Ali, 2012. "Impact of Firm Specific Factors on Capital Structure Decision: An Empirical Study of Bangladeshi Companies," International Journal of Business Research and Management (IJBRM), Computer Science Journals (CSC Journals), vol. 3(4), pages 163-182, August.
    18. Hong-Yi Chen & Cheng Few Lee & Tzu Tai, 2020. "The Joint Determinants of Capital Structure and Stock Rate of Return: A LISREL Model Approach," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Cheng Few Lee & John C Lee (ed.), HANDBOOK OF FINANCIAL ECONOMETRICS, MATHEMATICS, STATISTICS, AND MACHINE LEARNING, chapter 35, pages 1345-1397, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    19. Kuang Kuang Deng & Siu Kei Wong & Kwong Wing Chau, 2018. "Institutions and Capital Structure: The Case of Chinese Property Firms," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 352-385, April.
    20. Nigel Driffield & Vidya Mahambare & Sarmistha Pal, 2004. "Dynamic Adjustment of Corporate Leverage: Is there a lesson to learn from the Recent Asian Crisis?," Finance 0405007, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ethical corporate citizenship; World’s Most Ethical Companies; Corporate social responsibility; CEO power; Financial leverage; Dividend payout; Tobin’s q;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation

    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:eee:riibaf:v:67:y:2024:i:pa:s0275531923002027. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ribaf .

    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.