Linking Governance Quality to Financial Sustainability: Insights from Corporate Finance and Accounting Research
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Abstract
This study examines the relationship between governance quality and financial sustainability by integrating insights from corporate finance and accounting research. Using a panel dataset of publicly listed firms, the results show that stronger governance frameworks enhance financial performance, with a one-point increase in the governance index resulting in a 0.42-point rise in Return on Assets, a 0.55-point increase in Return on Equity, and a 0.36-point improvement in Tobin’s Q ratio. The results also indicate that accounting quality partially mediates this relationship (β = 0.18, p < 0.05), improving reporting transparency and investor confidence. Additionally, firms in highly regulated sectors exhibit superior governance practices and achieve better sustainability outcomes compared to less regulated industries.
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