Do Audit Committee Characteristics Influence Audit Committee Meetings? Moderating Role of CEO Duality

This study investigates the impact of audit committee (AC) characteristics which influence the number of AC meetings. Further, the moderating role of CEO duality in this association is also investigated. This article is a contribution to SDG 8, decent work and economic growth for everyone, which aligns with the sustainable economic growth. Panel data analysis is employed to analyse the impact of AC characteristics on AC meetings and to examine the moderating role of CEO duality in this association. The sample for the analysis comprises 481 companies, and a balanced panel of 7,696 firm-year observations is formed. The study provides empirical evidence that the number of AC meetings is negatively influenced by the number of years of auditor employment, whereas the size, number of independent directors and attendance of members in AC meetings positively impact the number of AC meetings. The study also finds that CEO duality plays a significant negative role, and this finding supports the argument of Fama and Jensen (1983, The Journal of Law and Economics , 26 , 301–325) that the presence of CEO duality signals the absence of the separation between decision control and decision management. The association of select AC characteristics affecting the AC activities would help in quantifying the diligence measurement.