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Ethnic board diversity, earnings quality and institutional investors: evidence from Malaysian corporate boards

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  • Chwee Ming Tee
  • Puspavathy Rassiah

Abstract

Motivated by calls to examine the issue of board diversity in emerging economies, this study explores the association between ethnic board diversity and earnings quality; and the moderating effect of institutional investors’ ownership. In a sample of Malaysian firms, we find that boards with higher ethnic diversity are associated with higher earnings quality. Consequently, our findings suggest that institutional investors prefer boards to be ethnically diverse. Consistent with geographical proximity theory, this effect is primarily driven by domestic institutional investors. Finally, we find that political connection attenuates the association between ethnic board diversity and higher earnings quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Chwee Ming Tee & Puspavathy Rassiah, 2020. "Ethnic board diversity, earnings quality and institutional investors: evidence from Malaysian corporate boards," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(4), pages 4257-4290, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:60:y:2020:i:4:p:4257-4290
    DOI: 10.1111/acfi.12485
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    2. Truc (Peter) Do, 2023. "The impact of board ethnic diversity on executive pay‐to‐performance sensitivity: Australian evidence," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(3), pages 3643-3674, September.
    3. Marziana Madah Marzuki, 2022. "Audit Committee Diversity, Analysts’ Forecast Accuracy and Earnings Management: Evidence from Malaysia," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-27, April.
    4. Brodmann, Jennifer & Hossain, Ashrafee & Singhvi, Meghna, 2022. "Chief executive officer power and board gender diversity," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    5. Ashesha Weerasinghe & Larelle (Ellie) Chapple & Alexandra Williamson, 2024. "Cultural diversity and Indigenous participation on Australian corporate boards: Harder but better decisions," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 64(1), pages 221-246, March.

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