Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Evaluating agency theory and optimal contracting theory views of corporate philanthropy, we find that as corporate giving increases, shareholders reduce their valuation of firm cash holdings.Dividend increases following the 2003 Tax Reform Act are associated with reduced corporate giving.Using a natural experiment, we find that corporate giving is positively (negatively) associated with CEO charity preferences (CEO shareholdings and corporate governance quality).Evidence from CEO-affiliated charity donations, market reactions to insider-affiliated donations, its relation to CEO compensation, and firm contributions to director-affiliated charities indicates that corporate donations advance CEO interests and suggests misuses of corporate resources that reduce firm value.
Source: Review of Financial Studies
DOI: 10.1093/rfs/hhu082
Authors: Ronald W. Masulis, Syed Walid Reza
Institutions: UNSW Sydney, Queensland University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2247506531