THE MEDIATING ROLE OF FOREIGN OWNERSHIP IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BOARD CHARACTERISTICS AND VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURES OF JORDANIAN BANKS

This study aims mainly to delve into the mediating effect of foreign ownership on the relationship between board characteristics and Voluntary Disclosure (VD) of Jordanian banks. Principally this study covers several Corporate Governance (CG) mechanisms that may have an effect on VD levels in the Jordanian banks. Initially this study focuses on independent members, board size, board meetings, external directorships and foreign ownership over a sample of listed banks between 2013 and 2017. Two separate OLS regression models are used to examine the mediating effect of foreign ownership on the relationship between CG mechanisms and VD levels. In line with the current study's prediction, the findings show a significant positive relationship between foreign ownership and VD levels. However, controlling the mediating effect of foreign ownership on the relationship between CG mechanisms and VD levels seems to be inefficient in enhancing the levels of VD, since the association between board characteristics and VD, however, remains essentially unchanged from the results that are reported in model one before controlling the mediating effect of foreign ownership. Indeed, this study documents negative correlation between independent members, board size, board meetings, and external directorship and VD levels. The Jordanian regulatory bodies should be more aware of devote more efforts to ensure effective and efficient adoption of CG mechanisms in a way that enhance mechanisms monitoring roles.