Political connections, media coverage and firm performance: evidence from an emerging market
ISSN: 2049-372X
Article publication date: 4 October 2022
Issue publication date: 13 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of politically connected directors (PCDs), media coverage and their interaction on firm performance in an emerging market economy (UAE).
Design/methodology/approach
This study relies on the agency theory and the resource dependency theory and uses a panel data set of a sample of non-financial firms listed in the UAE stock market from 2009 to 2016. Data were analyzed using fixed-effects regression. Instrumental variable regression was used to address potential endogeneity.
Findings
PCDs and media are positively associated with firm performance (ROE and Tobin’s q). Media moderates the PCDs–performance relationship, as the interaction between PCDs and media coverage is negatively associated with firm performance. Under growing media attention, reputational concerns prevent PCDs from using their connections to gain particular advantages to their firms to avoid damaging their image.
Practical implications
Regulators need to acknowledge and define the roles of PCDs and media in business governance.
Originality/value
To the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is the first empirical examination testing the effect of the interplay between PCDs and media on firm performance in an emerging market economy such as UAE.
Keywords
Citation
Hassan, M.K., Lahyani, F.E. and Elgharbawy, A. (2023), "Political connections, media coverage and firm performance: evidence from an emerging market", Meditari Accountancy Research, Vol. 31 No. 6, pp. 1634-1653. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-09-2021-1439
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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