Diversity Tax Nexus: An Investigation of Egyptian Listed Companies

Abstract

This study examines the impact of board and audit committee diversity on tax avoidance, focusing on whether the presence of female board members, foreign board members, board size, CEO duality, and audit committee diversity (measured by the presence of female committee members) significantly affect tax avoidance in the Egyptian capital market. Thirty-four listed companies from EGX100 companies listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange between 2015 and 2020. The paper uses GMM in the analysis of the impact of board and audit committee diversity on tax avoidance while controlling for firm size, leverage, return on assets, and external auditor. Findings indicate that the effective tax rates of the board and audit committee are lower, which results in a greater amount of tax avoidance. The results have a significant impact on policymakers interested in the determinants of and mechanisms to prevent tax avoidance. The implication is to exercise prudence when appointing female and foreign directors to the board of directors and to instead recommend their presence in audit committees in Egypt.