Alternative regulatory policies, compliance and corporate governance quality

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the evolution of corporate compliance with the eighth Company Law Directive (CLD) over time, the relationship between the degree of compliance with the eighth CLD and corporate governance quality (CGQ), and the relative effect of compliance with the eighth CLD and Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX) on CGQ.Design/methodology/approachThe hypotheses are tested on a sample of EU firms that are cross listed in the EU and the USA and, thus, subject to both EU and US legislation, using fixed effects panel regression analysis.FindingsThe authors find that compliance levels with the eighth CLD are increasing over time, yet they vary considerably across constituent provisions. The authors also find that higher compliance is positively related to CGQ, although the effect size is higher for compliance with the eighth CLD than for compliance with SOX.Originality/valueThis study is original from many perspectives. Unlike most prior studies, which rely on binary variables to represent the constructs appraised in this study, novel and advanced measures of compliance and CGQ are constructed. Next, this study examines EU firms that have received very little research interest compared to US firms. Third, in an innovative approach, the authors appraise the relationship between the degree of compliance and CGQ longitudinally at both the aggregate and the constituent provision levels.