THE EFFECT OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE ON FIRM PERFORMANCE WITH CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AS A MODERATING VARIABLE: EVIDENCE FROM CGPI-LISTED COMPANIES IN INDONESIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33395/owner.v10i4.3629Abstract
This study examines the effect of capital structure on firm performance and the moderating role of corporate governance. Firm performance is proxied by Return on Equity (ROE) and Tobin’s Q, while capital structure is measured using the Debt to Equity Ratio (DER). Corporate governance is represented by the Corporate Governance Perception Index (CGPI). The study employs a quantitative approach using purposive sampling on companies listed in the CGPI and the Indonesia Stock Exchange during the 2018–2022 period. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression with moderation analysis (interaction effect) through SPSS 26. The findings indicate that capital structure does not have a significant effect on ROE and Tobin’s Q, suggesting that leverage decisions do not directly influence profitability or market valuation. Furthermore, corporate governance does not moderate the relationship between capital structure and ROE, indicating that governance mechanisms do not strengthen the impact of leverage on accounting-based performance. However, corporate governance significantly moderates the relationship between capital structure and Tobin’s Q, implying that strong governance enhances the positive perception of leverage in the market. These results highlight the importance of governance quality in shaping investor confidence and firm value.
Keywords: capital structure, corporate governance, firm performance, tobin’s q
Downloads
References
Abdoush, T., Hussainey, K., & Albitar, K. (2022). Corporate governance and performance in the UK insurance industry pre, during and post the global financial crisis. International Journal of Accounting and Information Management, 30(5), 617–640. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJAIM-03-2022-0049
Al Amosh, H., Khatib, S. F. A., Alkurdi, A., & Bazhair, A. H. (2022). Capital structure decisions and environmental, social and governance performance: Insights from Jordan. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-12-2021-0453
Almashhadani, H. A., & Almashhadani, M. (2022). An overview of recent developments in corporate governance. International Journal of Business and Management Invention, 11(5), 39–44.
Alodat, A. Y., Salleh, Z., Hashim, H. A., & Sulong, F. (2022a). Corporate governance and firm performance: Empirical evidence from Jordan. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, 20(5), 866–896. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-12-2020-0361
Alodat, A. Y., Salleh, Z., Hashim, H. A., & Sulong, F. (2022b). Investigating the mediating role of sustainability disclosure in the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance in Jordan. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-07-2021-0182
Bajaj, Y., Kashiramka, S., & Singh, S. (2020). Application of capital structure theories: A systematic review. Journal of Advances in Management Research, 18(2), 173–199. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAMR-01-2020-0017
Bashir, Z., Bhatti, G. A., & Javed, A. (2020). Corporate governance and capital structure as driving force for financial performance: Evidence from non-financial listed companies in Pakistan. Business Review, 15(1), 108–133. https://doi.org/10.54784/1990-6587.1013
Borges Júnior, D. M. (2022). Corporate governance and capital structure in Latin America: Empirical evidence. Journal of Capital Markets Studies, 6(2), 148–165. https://doi.org/10.1108/jcms-03-2022-0010
Bui, T. N., Nguyen, X. H., & Pham, K. T. (2023). The effect of capital structure on firm value: A study of companies listed on the Vietnamese stock market. International Journal of Financial Studies, 11(3), 100. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijfs11030100
Butt, M. N., Baig, A. S., & Seyyed, F. J. (2021). Tobin’s Q approximation as a metric of firm performance: An empirical evaluation. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 31(3), 532–548. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2021.1947875
Ghozali, I. (2016). Aplikasi analisis multivariete dengan program IBM SPSS 23 (Edisi ke-8). Badan Penerbit Universitas Diponegoro.
Hegde, A. A., Panda, A. K., & Masuna, V. (2023). Sectoral analysis of capital structure adjustment: Evidence from emerging markets. Journal of Advances in Management Research, 20(5), 801–820. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAMR-09-2022-0196
Jensen, M. C., & Meckling, W. H. (1976). Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 3(4), 305–360.
Khan, M. A. (2022). ESG disclosure and firm performance: A bibliometric and meta-analysis. Research in International Business and Finance, 61, 101668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2022.101668
Khatib, S. F. A. (2025). An assessment of methods to deal with endogeneity in corporate governance and reporting research. Corporate Governance, 25(3), 606–630. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-12-2023-0507
Lim, H.-J., & Mali, D. (2024). Does market performance (Tobin’s Q) have a negative effect on credit ratings? Evidence from South Korea. Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, 31, 53–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10690-023-09400-0
Miloud, T. (2022). Corporate governance and capital structure behavior: Empirical evidence from France. Managerial Finance, 48(6), 853–878. https://doi.org/10.1108/MF-12-2021-0595
Modigliani, F., & Miller, M. H. (1958). The cost of capital, corporation finance and the theory of investment. The American Economic Review, 48(3), 261–297.
Modigliani, F., & Miller, M. H. (1963). Corporate income taxes and the cost of capital: A correction. The American Economic Review, 53(3), 433–443.
Myers, S. C., & Majluf, N. S. (1984). Corporate financing and investment decisions when firms have information that investors do not have. Journal of Financial Economics, 13(2), 187–221.
Ngatno, N., Apriatni, E. P., & Youlianto, A. (2021). Moderating effects of corporate governance mechanisms on the relationship between capital structure and firm performance. Cogent Business & Management, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2020.1866822
Nguyen, D. T. (2020). The effect of financial structure on business performance of industrial enterprises listed in Vietnam. Accounting, 6(7), 1297–1304. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ac.2020.8.021
Oduro, S., De Nisco, A., & Mainolfi, G. (2023). Do digital technologies pay off? A meta-analytic review of the digital technologies/firm performance nexus. Technovation, 128, 102836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2023.102836
Priyan, P. K., Nyabakora, W. I., & Rwezimula, G. (2023). Firm’s capital structure decisions, asset structure, and firm performance: Application of the generalized method of moments approach. PSU Research Review. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRR-06-2022-0069
Rashid, U., Abdullah, M., Tabash, M. I., Khan, F. M., Naaz, I., & Akhter, J. (2025). Unlocking the synergy between capital structure and corporate sustainability: A hybrid systematic review and pathways for future research. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 33(11), 4483–4517. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-06-2024-4568
Saputra, F. (2022). Analysis effect return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and price earning ratio (PER) on stock prices of coal companies in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) period 2018–2021. Dinasti International Journal of Economics, Finance & Accounting, 3(1), 82–90. https://doi.org/10.38035/dijefa.v3i1
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Rosita Asa Pertiwi, Imam Ghozali

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.







