Tax avoidance, corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility: The case of the Egyptian capital market

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between tax avoidance, corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure. It also investigates the effect of CSR on stock market returns. Using a sample of Egyptian firms for the period 2007–2016, we provide robust new evidence that corporate tax avoidance is positively associated with CSR disclosure. We find evidence that businesses with a more sophisticated board of directors, measured by the presence of family or foreign members, provide more CSR disclosure. Finally, the findings of this study indicate that firms making higher CSR disclosures have greater stock returns, suggesting that CSR is value-enhancing. These findings have important implications for capital markets’ users and policymaker in emerging economies.