Disclosure and corporate governance in developing countries: evidence from Ghana

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathew Tsamenyi ◽  
Elsie Enninful‐Adu ◽  
Joseph Onumah

PurposeFollowing previous studies the paper seeks to use disclosure scores to examine corporate governance practices of Ghanaian listed firms. The study is motivated by the dearth of literature on corporate governance practices in the developing world despite the increasing interests in the topic in both the developed and the developing world.Design/methodology/approachThe data for the analysis are gathered from 22 listed companies on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE representing 95 percent of the Ghanaian market capitalization). The paper also examines the extent to which factors such as ownership structure, dispersion of shareholding, firm size, and leverage influence disclosure practices.FindingsConsistent with findings reported in studies from other developing countries the study finds that the level of disclosure in Ghana is low. Furthermore, ownership structure, dispersion of shareholding, and firm size (measured as total assets and market capitalization) all have significant effect on disclosure. However, the correlation between disclosure and leverage is insignificant.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of the research will help policy makers and practitioners in formulating corporate governance policies. However, this research is limited because it focuses on only companies listed on the GSE. The results may therefore not be representative of all companies operating in Ghana.Originality/valueThe study is important because of the recent surge in international capital into the developing world (including Ghana) as a result of the ongoing World Bank and IMF led economic reforms. These reforms have emphasized transparency and accountability. There is therefore the need to understand corporate governance practices in these environments.

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Wasim Jan Khan ◽  
Usman Saeed

Corporate governance is considered as environment of trust, set of processes, policies and laws affecting the way corporations are administrated and directed. The previous literature in context of the corporate governance relationship with firm financial performance shows controversial findings; similarly literature shows lack of studies in context of developing countries as Pakistan. Therefore, this research explores the relationship of the corporate governance and the firm financial performance in context of developing country as Pakistan. The data has been collected from the sugar sector listed in KSE (Pakistan Stock Exchange), 20 corporations are selected as sample from sugar sector on basis of outstanding shares. Corporate governance taken as independent variable and measured as CEO biformity (CB), board size (BS), firm age (FA), firm size (FS). Financial performance of firms taken as dependent variable and measured as return on asset (ROA), return on equity (ROE), net profit margin (NPM). Data is collected for period of 2000-2013 from reports of the sugar companies listed in KSE (Pakistan Stock Exchange) issued annually and analysis of balance sheet given by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Result shows that CEO biformity significantly affecting firm financial performance. Board size (BS) shows partially significant impact on firm financial performance. Firms age (FA) show partially significant impact on firm financial performance. Firm size (FS) shows partially significant impact on firm financial performance. Therefore, conclusion has been drawn based on the results of analysis that this study adds new knowledge to the existing body of knowledge of corporate governance impact on firm financial performance and in context of developing countries as Pakistan. Keywords: Corporate governance, firm financial performance, sugar sector, Pakistan.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmi A. Boshnak

Purpose This paper aims to examine firm characteristics and ownership structure determinants of corporate social and environmental voluntary disclosure (CSEVD) practices in Saudi Arabia to address the paucity of research in this field for Saudi listed firms. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses manual content and regression analyses for online annual report data for Saudi non-financial listed firms over the period 2016–2018 using CSEVD items drawing on global reporting initiative-G4 guidelines. Findings Models show that Saudi firm CSEVD has increased over time compared to previous studies to an average of 68% disclosure due to new corporate governance regulations and IFRS implementation. The models show that firm size, leverage, manufacturing industry type and government ownership are positive determinants of CSEVD, while family ownership is the negative driver of CSEVD. However, firm profitability, audit firm size, firm age and institutional ownership have no impact on the level of CSEVD. Originality/value Using legitimacy and stakeholder theories, the paper determines the influence of firm characteristics and ownership structure on CSEVD, identifying implications for firm stakeholders and providing some evidence on the impact of corporate governance regulation and IFRS implementation on such disclosure. The paper provides additional evidence on progress towards Saudi’s Vision 2030.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kléber Formiga Miranda ◽  
Jefferson Ricardo do Amaral Melo ◽  
Orleans Silva Martins

Purpose This study aims to examine the listing of firms at the highest corporate governance level of the Brazilian stock exchange (B3) as a means of legitimation and its relationship with risk and return on investment. Design/methodology/approach This paper analyzes 205 companies from 2010 to 2019, in which firms listed at the Novo Mercado level were compared with groups composed of other firms traded on B3. Findings The main results demonstrate that a listing at the supposedly higher level of corporate governance in Brazil does not indicate lower risk, a higher return or even a better risk-return ratio. Research limitations/implications The findings are restricted to this sample, representing the association identified between the analyzed phenomena and not a cause-effect relationship. Practical implications The highest level of corporate governance in Brazil brings together firms that present a higher risk (at least systematic) and lower returns (at least financial) because they seek to legitimize themselves in the market as firms committed to better management practices. Social implications These findings are useful to investors, the stock exchange, regulatory agents and the companies themselves to reflect on the purpose and usefulness of different levels of corporate governance in Brazil. Originality/value This study differs from the others that relate corporate governance to risk or return because it does not deal individually with corporate governance practices, but rather the phenomenon that is listed in a special governance level, created by the stock exchange, serving as a kind of seal legitimation.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irfan Saleem ◽  
Mujtaba Nasir Ali Khan ◽  
Rashedul Hasan ◽  
Muhammad Ashfaq

Purpose Drawing from the firm’s entrepreneurial identity and ecology perspectives, this study aims to explain why the firms deviate from standard corporate governance practices and apply innovative management control. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a panel of 2,538 public companies listed with the New York Stock Exchange to explain the impact of corporate governance deviance on firm’s performance. The authors relied on unique governance variables extracted from the Bloomberg database to develop the governance deviance index. Findings Study unveils that deviance from governance practices influences firm’s performance. Consequently, it can be said that the firms which use innovative governance mechanisms, usually stay ahead of the market by leading the governance trends. The findings also generalise the firm’s entrepreneurial identity and organisational ecology perspectives. Research limitations/implications Research implies that the firm’s entrepreneurial identity demands innovative managerial control. This study is focused on the US financial market, but in future, researchers could revalidate the deviance index. Scholars can also use mixed methods to test the need for innovative governance mechanisms in emerging markets. Practical implications The firms should focus on innovative governance practices not only to safeguard the firm’s entrepreneurial identity but also to pursue the growth objectives. Such innovative mechanisms and managerial controls are helpful to deal with industrial transformations to satisfy key stakeholders. Originality/value The study contributed to governance and management control research by sharing insights and catering the potential endogeneity problem faced to measure corporate governance measures. The study also proposes an alternative testing tool to measure governance deviance to add methodological uniqueness and reduce knowledge gap.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 404-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ojonugwa Usman ◽  
Umoru Adejo Yakubu

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of corporate governance practices on the post-privatization financial performance of the firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) over the period 2005-2014. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a two-step dynamic system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation technique for 27 privatized firms by considering a wide range of controlled variables such as managerial shareholdings, board composition, debt financing and stock market development. Findings The empirical result suggests that the improvement in the firms’ financial performance is attributed to good corporate governance practices through effective board composition, debt financing (leverage) and stock market development. The result further shows no substantial evidence to support that managerial shareholding improves firms’ financial performance. Research limitations/implications Therefore, based on the empirical findings of this study, the authors recommend that the firms need to maintain the optimum board composition and the ratio of debt to share capital as well as developing the stock market to function effectively. Originality/value This study contributes to the existing literature in several ways: (1) the first time that the role of corporate governance is considered in explaining the post-privatization financial performance of firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange; (2) the paper applies a two-step dynamic system GMM estimation technique, proposed by Arellano and Bover (1995) and Blundell and Bond (1998) to control for the serial correlation and heterogeneity, which remain the major weaknesses of the panel data modeling in the literature.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 524-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Wandroski Peris ◽  
Eduardo Contani ◽  
José Roberto Ferreira Savoia ◽  
Daniel Reed Bergmann

Purpose This study aims to examine the association between the adoption of corporate governance practices and operational performance in companies listed on the Brazilian Stock Exchange. Design/methodology/approach The sample comprises the 80 largest companies in market value present in the Brazil Stocks Index in 2014. Principal component and cluster analyses techniques are used to evaluate performance and capital structure, and a regression model is applied to identify the relationship between key variables. Findings The findings show that the incidence of a high level of corporate governance in Brazil occurs among smaller companies with less desirable operational performance, rather than the biggest (blue chip) companies. Using a regression model with the return on assets as a dependent variable, a dummy variable for “governance”, and the size of the companies as a control variable, the authors find no association with good practices of corporate governance and operational performance for the companies in the sample. Practical implications Newer companies are more likely to exhibit a higher level of corporate governance because of the actions of foreign investors who demand the adoption of stronger corporate governance practices. Although there is demand from wealthy local institutional investors, many older traditional firms could still restructure to achieve higher levels of governance, especially in the case of emerging economies with less mature stock exchanges Originality/value This study contributes to the recent debates in the literature by identifying evidence for an association between operational performance and corporate governance rather than a causal relationship.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-304
Author(s):  
Salem Amara

The corporate governance concept has recently become a major issue in the corporate practices of both developed and developing countries alike. Corporate governance is considered to be a tremendously important topic in many countries around the world; specifically within the emerging stock markets in order to protect the minority of shareholders. The aim of this research is to investigate corporate governance practices in companies listed on the Libyan stock exchange. In particular, to investigate whether corporate governance practices in these companies meet international standards of corporate governance and to identify the main obstacles to implementing them. The concept of corporate governance, corporate governance practices in developing countries, the Libyan stock market and OECD principles of corporate governance were discussed. A close-ended questionnaire was the main method for data collection. 100 questionnaires were distributed to the participants of the study, and only 76 questionnaires usable for analysis were received. Several issues related to corporate governance, depending on OCED principles, were investigated. The results revealed that corporate governance practice in the companies under investigation fit with OCED principles of corporate governance in some aspects and do not fit in others. Furthermore, the most important obstacles were perceived impeding corporate governance practice in companies listed in the Libyan stock market are "lack of compliance with the laws governing the work of companies" and "high cost of applying corporate governance rules". (JEL G30) Keywords: Corporate governance, the Libyan stock exchange, developing countries, OCED principles of corporate governance


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-442
Author(s):  
Uday Khanna ◽  
Pankaj Madan

Worldwide considerable amount of research on corporate governance focuses on ownership structure and board characteristics of companies and linking these to their performance but fewer studies have been found on the linkage between market capitalization of the firms and the quality of corporate governance practices. This study is an attempt to showcase the linkage between market capitalization and quality of corporate governance practices of the firm. The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of firms with different market capitalization on the quality of corporate governance in Indian companies. As India is one of such countries where corporate governance systems are in the evolutionary stage, the findings could also be useful for other newly liberalized and globalizing economies.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pankaj Kumar Gupta ◽  
Prabhat Mittal

Purpose This paper aims to develop a framework that aids in achieving the desired state of financial performance for corporate enterprises based on distinct configurations of corporate governance (CG) practices. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a fuzzy-based system to arrive at a definitive configuration of CG practices that lead to a specific level of firm’s performance. Findings This analysis of the panel data of 92 National Stock Exchange–listed companies conducted for RONW on selected CG variables shows that eight fuzzy configurations lead to a particular state of RONW. The authors compare the results with the conventional regression-based scoring models. Originality/value Corporate enterprises can use the derived bundles of CG practices leading to a specific set of financial performance (RONW) to aid the decision-making process in defining and implementing their governance structures. The regulators can modify or customize the law-mandated CG practices to reduce redundancies and promote the national agenda of economic efficiency.


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