MUHAMMAD ISHFAQ AHMAD

We test whether an effective board affects firm value (FV) in Pakistan and whether stock liquidity (LIQ) mediates this relationship. To test this conjecture, we introduce an effective board index (EBI) using board size, board independence, board diversity and CEO duality. By employing the fixed effect model, we find that an effective board reduces agency costs and thus increases FV. An effective board may signal investors positively regarding reduced information asymmetry, thereby increasing stock LIQ. Furthermore, stock LIQ partially mediates the relationship between the effective board and FV. However, only Amihud illiquidity mediates this relationship, which suggests the stock liquidity’s estimation matters.