The Moderating Effect of Corporate Governance on the Association Between Earnings Quality and Cash Holding: Evidence from Egyptian-Listed Firms

This paper investigates the impact of earnings quality, corporate governance, and their interaction effect on cash holdings in Egyptian-listed firms, comprising the top-listed Egyptian firms on EGX100. The findings indicate that firms adhering to a corporate governance framework positively correlate with cash holdings, whereas earnings quality is negatively related to them. Furthermore, corporate governance moderates the relationship between earnings quality and cash reserves, with robust results across alternative measures of cash holdings. The paper contributes to the limited literature on corporate accounting in emerging markets by focusing on Egyptian firms, ensuring contextual relevance in the distinct Egyptian business environment characterized by economic and political stability, as well as cultural and institutional factors. Moreover, it addresses a gap in the literature by providing insights to regulators and corporations regarding the factors influencing the level of cash holdings in this specific setting.