Corporate cash holdings, earnings management and corporate governance : evidence from Thailand

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship of cash holdings, earnings management and corporate governance during 2002-2007 on 246 Thai listed firms. I use corporate governance index as proxy of corporate governance. This index divided into five sub-indices; board structure, conflict of interest, board responsibilities, shareholder rights, and disclosure and transparency, which capture major aspects of corporate governance. The results show that there is no significant association either corporate cash holdings or likelihood of earning managements with the corporate governance index. However, shareholder rights, one of the sub-indices of corporate governance index, are associated with reduced levels of earnings manipulation. In addition to providing new knowledge for academic field, this study provides a useful platform for practitioners alike in an attempt to eliminate agency problem and improve corporate governance standard in Thailand