The relationship between corporate governance and community engagement: Evidence from the Australian mining companies

We investigate whether effective corporate governance mechanisms help improve firm-level community engagement activities, using a sample of Australian mining companies for the period 2005–2013. We firstly document that effective board structure and functionality positively contribute to mining companies׳ community engagement. Secondly, we analyze the components of community engagement and examine each of them individually with governance mechanisms. The results show that the effects on engagement with indigenous people and indirect economic are mostly significant and profound. Thirdly, we hypothesize that firm performance proxied by dividend yield can moderate the relationship between governance mechanisms and community engagement. Our empirical results support this hypothesis, suggesting that dividend yield mitigates the negative effects of the largest shareholders ownership and strengthens the positive effects of board size, board meeting and the presence of CSR committee on community engagement level. •Effective corporate governance helps improve community engagement in Australian mining sector.•Mining companies׳ community engagement is found to be increasing as board structure and functionality improve.•Effects on engagement with indigenous people and indirect economic are mostly significant and profound.•Firm performance can moderate the relationship between governance mechanisms and community engagement.