CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE DECISIONS: THE MODERATING EFFECT OF GENDER DIVERSITY

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between the corporate governance attributes and capital structure decisions with the help of gender diversity taken as a moderating variable. The research methodology constitutes regression analysis, between corporate governance attributes and capital structure further moderation is tested with gender diversity. The findings of this study demonstrate that there is a strong influence of the presence of gender diversity on the attributes of corporate governance and financial structures. Resulting, there is an encouraging impact on the companies’ governance attributes on the financial structure, whereas women representation and presence in the boardroom causes a positive impact. Corporate governance could be improved by different means and attract more capital. There might be a chance that the principles may involve more females as the board of directors in the company, which may further add transparency and attract capital specially debt. The scope of this paper is limited to Pakistan non-financial sector of economy. This study provides evidence to top management of companies regarding the incorporation of women representation in boardrooms which may further add transparency and attract capital specially debt. The financial companies are fully ignored which may represent different results and may vary according to the sectors as well. As the companies are selected from cement sector therefore, the results may differ from sector to sector. Keywords: Corporate governance; Capital structure; Firm’s Leverage; Board attributes; Gender diversity; Agency theor