Does the Firm Size Matter? An Empirical Enquiry into the Performance of Indian Manufacturing Firms

Purpose This study aims to investigate the nexus between gender-diverse boards and cost of debt in the developing economies context. Specifically, the authors examine whether firm size moderates the relationship between female board representation and cost of debt, regardless of the industry type. Design/methodology/approach The authors use panel data from 17 non-financial listed Ghanaian firms over the period 2007–2017, ordinary least square, two-stage least square and generalised method of moments estimations to test the hypothesis. Findings The authors find that board gender diversity is positively related to cost of debt. Further evidence suggests the interaction of firm size and board gender diversity displays a negative association with cost of debt. Practical implications The study evidence suggests larger non-manufacturing firms with gender-diverse boards attract lower cost of capital in an environment with lax enforcement of rules and regulations in corporate governance. Social implications Lenders consider the size and industry of firms in pricing debt. This has implications on UN Goal 5, highlighting that shareholders of larger non-manufacturing firms benefit immensely from board gender diversity in the context of debt. Originality/value The authors contribute to the board gender diversity and cost of debt literature by demonstrating that firm size and industry type matter in the developing economies context.

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Impact of Firm Performance on Corporate Governance Quality: The Case of Nigerian Manufacturing Firms

Sumerianz Journal of Economics and Finance ◽

10.47752/sjef.311.189.193 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 189-193

Author(s):

R. A. Akinsokeji ◽

E. O. Ogunleye ◽

O. O. Akindele

Keyword(s):

Firm Performance ◽

Firm Size ◽

High Performance ◽

Manufacturing Firms ◽

Board Structure ◽

Panel Data Estimation ◽

Pooled Data ◽

Two Measures ◽

Corporate Governance Quality ◽

Data Estimation

In this study, the reverse impact of firm corporate performance on board structure is empirically examined using a large cross section of 50 manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study makes a divergence from previous studies by noting that such a reverse effect is possible and examining this effect of performance on board structure in Nigeria. The panel data estimation technique is employed on the pooled data for the firms over a ten-year period (2004-2013) and estimation is performed using four measures of firm performance and two measures of board structure. The results show that there is actually reverse impact of firm performance on board structure although the effect is quite weak. The only performance variable that exerts significant impact on board structure (board size and independence) is earnings per share and, to a lesser degree profit margin. Moreover, firm size is shown to be an essential factor in explaining the general behavior of firm performance and also the pattern of effect of such performance on the board structure. The analyses clearly showed that firm size is itself a strong positive factor in improving firm performance and also tends to improve the effect of high performance on board structure across the firms.

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Receptiveness of effective tax rate to firm characteristics: an empirical analysis on Indian listed firms

Journal of Asia Business Studies ◽

10.1108/jabs-11-2018-0304 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Ajaya Kumar Panda ◽

Swagatika Nanda

Keyword(s):

Regression Model ◽

Firm Size ◽

Manufacturing Firms ◽

Debt Ratio ◽

Effective Tax Rate ◽

Content Type ◽

Tax Rate ◽

Tax Shield ◽

Dynamic Panel Regression ◽

Debt Tax Shield

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the factors deriving effective tax rate (ETR) for Indian manufacturing firms in different sectors. The study also tries to analyze the sensitiveness of ETR because of shocks on its key determinants. Design/methodology/approach The study is using Arellano–Bond dynamic panel regression model to identify the key drivers of ETR, and impulse response functions of panel vector auto-regression model to analyze the response of ETR because of one standard deviation (SD) shock to its key determinants. Findings This study concludes that ETR is significantly explained by firm size, profitability, growth rate and non-debt tax shield in most of the sectors, and debt ratio, asset tangibility and age of the firms are impacting ETR differently across sectors. In case of entire manufacturing sector, firm size, profitability, growth and non-debt tax shield are driving ETR positively and asset tangibility is driving ETR negatively. Interest coverage ratio (ICR) and firm age are not significant drivers of ETR. ETR is positively related with firm size, but responses negatively when there is an immediate shock to firm size. Similarly, ETR is negatively related with asset tangibility, but responds positively following an immediate shock to it. Overall, ETR is more sensitive and responses significantly because of shocks in firm size, profitability, growth, asset tangibility and non-debt tax shield whereas, the response is very marginal following shocks to debt ratio, ICR and age of the firm. Research limitations/implications Firm managers may find the study useful to understand the receptiveness of ETRs at each sector level. The empirical findings are not only validating the theoretical developments but also providing a root cause analysis to the firm managers to understand the cause and consequence of ETRs for firms at different sectors. Originality/value Empirically investigating the factors driving ETR and analyzing its sensitiveness because of one SD shock on its key determinants for Indian manufacturing firms from different sectors is the originality of this study. Developing a strong theoretical background and empirically validating it through advanced methodology makes the study unique.

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