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Are both managerial morality and talent important to firm performance? Evidence from Chinese public firms

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  • Pan, Xiaozhen
  • Tang, Hongfei

Abstract

Morality and talent are two important factors to consider when selecting managers. This study examines the relation among managerial morality, talent, and firm performance by manually collecting morality data in a sample of non-financial Chinese public firms during 2008–2018. We find that both managerial morality and talent are important to firm performance. In particular, managerial morality is positively associated with firm performance regardless of ownership or legal environment, but managerial talent is associated with better firm performance only in non-state-owned enterprises and in a strong legal environment. On the other hand, managerial talent cannot improve or may even harm firm performance when managerial morality is low, but managerial talent can improve firm performance when managerial morality is high.

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  • Pan, Xiaozhen & Tang, Hongfei, 2021. "Are both managerial morality and talent important to firm performance? Evidence from Chinese public firms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:73:y:2021:i:c:s1057521920302453
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2020.101602
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Managerial morality; Managerial talent; Firm performance; Chinese public firms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G00 - Financial Economics - - General - - - General
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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