Does Gender Diversity and Experience Moderate the Impact of Tax Aggressiveness on Corporate Social Responsibility: A Study of UAE Listed Companies
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The article must be formatted in accordance with the requirements of the MDPI.
Author Response
- The article must be formatted in accordance with the requirements of the MDPI.
ANSWER:
Dear reviewer, we have formatted the manuscript and references according to the MDPI format.
Reviewer 2 Report
The summary presents the study and its purpose. The introduction is clear and makes the study framework, presenting the four objectives of the study.
The literature review is extensive and appropriate. Furthermore, the authors present the study’s hypothesis clearly.
Please see in page 4, last paragraph, line 2, there is a space missing, please add it: “(Lanis &Richardson, 2013) (Lanis & Richardson, 2013) to compare CSR disclosure…”; in page 5, after de first paragraph there are missing some punctuation marks, please add them:
“Hence, based on the arguments presented above, it can be hypothesized that:
H1: The firm’s CSR approach is significantly influenced by its tax planning.”
In page 6, paragraph 5, line 2, eliminate the parenthesis, it is the beginning of a sentence: “…activities of a firm. (Peng, 2017) found that CSR…”; in the same page, paragraph, in line 5 add the following preposition: “…to the academic experience of the CEO.” After this same paragraph, there is missing a punctuation mark at the end of the following sentence, please add it: “Based on the arguments presented above, it can be hypnotized that:”
In page 7, in the title of point 3, please remove the “:” – “Data and methodology:”
In page 14, please change the verb tenses as follows: “Authors contributions: Nadia designed the main idea and writing. Rida Waheed did performed the analysis and reviewed the manuscript. Suleman has reviewed the draft.”
The methodology used in the study is well presented, structured and organized. The results and the conclusions achieved are clear and give a great contribute to this matter. The work was done with thoroughness and detail, which contributed to the good quality of the study.
Kindest regards,
Susana Bastos
Author Response
The summary presents the study and its purpose. The introduction is clear and makes the study framework, presenting the four objectives of the study.
The literature review is extensive and appropriate. Furthermore, the authors present the study’s hypothesis clearly.
- Please see in page 4, last paragraph, line 2, there is a space missing, please add it: “(Lanis &Richardson, 2013) (Lanis & Richardson, 2013) to compare CSR disclosure…”;
ANSWER:
Dear reviewer, we have corrected the issue.
Additionally, (Lanis & Richardson, 2013) used data from Australian firms to compare CSR disclosure of tax aggressive firms with non-tax aggressive firms. Results of the study suggest that CSR disclosure is high in tax aggressive firms. A similar type of conclusion is also made by Gulzar et al. (2018) regarding the relationship between tax aggressiveness and CSR disclosure. However, some authors including (Hoi et al., 2013; Huseynov & Klamm, 2012; Lanis & Richardson, 2015), found that tax planning negatively affects the CSR performance of firms.
- in page 5, after de first paragraph there are missing some punctuation marks, please add them: “Hence, based on the arguments presented above, it can be hypothesized that:
H1: The firm’s CSR approach is significantly influenced by its tax planning.”
ANSWER:
Dear reviewer, we have added the punctuation marks.
Hence, based on the arguments presented above, it can be hypothesized that:
H1: The firm’s CSR approach is significantly and positively influenced by its tax planning.
- In page 6, paragraph 5, line 2, eliminate the parenthesis, it is the beginning of a sentence: “…activities of a firm. (Peng, 2017) found that CSR…”; in the same page, paragraph, in line 5 add the following preposition: “…to the academic experience of the” After this same paragraph, there is missing a punctuation mark at the end of the following sentence, please add it: “Based on the arguments presented above, it can be hypnotized that:”
ANSWER:
Dear reviewer, we have added the preposition and punctuation mark. All citations are added through Mendeley and by default all citations are in parenthesis.
- In page 7, in the title of point 3, please remove the “:” – “Data and methodology:”
ANSWER:
Dear reviewer, we have removed the sign.
1. Data and methodology
1.1. Data
The study data is collected from the Security and Commodity Authority’s (SCA) annual reports and annual financial reports of each firm, covering 2014 to 2020. For empirical estimations, we use the fixed-effect method and random effect method for robust estimations. The focus of this study is on public firms of UAE listed on Abu Dhabi Security Market and Dubai Financial Market. However, due to out of scope from MCGC applications, all financial firms are excluded from the analysis. The main sectors of the UAE economy include “Real Estate, Banks, Investment and Financial Services, Energy, Telecommunication, Insurance, Industrial, Consumer Stables, Services, Debt Instrument, Electronically Traded Fund and Transportation.” Initially, the current study included 86 firms in the sample due to the MCGC scope of application. However, few firms are excluded from the sample due to their listing after 2013. Similarly, firms owned by other countries are also excluded leaving a final sample size of 55 firms.
- In page 14, please change the verb tenses as follows: “Authors contributions: Nadia designed the main idea and writing. Rida Waheed did performed the analysis and reviewed the Suleman has reviewed the draft.”
ANSWER:
Dear reviewer, we have changed the verb tenses.
Authors contributions: Nadia designed the main idea and writing. Rida Waheed did performed the analysis and reviewed the manuscript. Suleman has reviewed the draft. Ghazal has drafted and reviewed the manuscript.
The methodology used in the study is well presented, structured and organized. The results and the conclusions achieved are clear and give a great contribute to this matter. The work was done with thoroughness and detail, which contributed to the good quality of the study.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear authors, I have carefully read your paper. Overall, the subject matter is interesting, and your methodology is clear. However, the manuscript’s content can still be siginifcantly improved.
What exactly is tax aggressiveness? You do not appropriately define it. You also frequently make broad claims without providing citations.
H1 is also vague. Is significant influence positive or negative?
H2a and H2b can be clearly united in one hypothesis. There is no great need to fracture them.
Author Response
The summary presents the study and its purpose. The introduction is clear and makes the study framework, presenting the four objectives of the study.
The literature review is extensive and appropriate. Furthermore, the authors present the study’s hypothesis clearly.
- Please see in page 4, last paragraph, line 2, there is a space missing, please add it: “(Lanis &Richardson, 2013) (Lanis & Richardson, 2013) to compare CSR disclosure…”;
ANSWER:
Dear reviewer, we have corrected the issue.
Additionally, (Lanis & Richardson, 2013) used data from Australian firms to compare CSR disclosure of tax aggressive firms with non-tax aggressive firms. Results of the study suggest that CSR disclosure is high in tax aggressive firms. A similar type of conclusion is also made by Gulzar et al. (2018) regarding the relationship between tax aggressiveness and CSR disclosure. However, some authors including (Hoi et al., 2013; Huseynov & Klamm, 2012; Lanis & Richardson, 2015), found that tax planning negatively affects the CSR performance of firms.
- in page 5, after de first paragraph there are missing some punctuation marks, please add them: “Hence, based on the arguments presented above, it can be hypothesized that:
H1: The firm’s CSR approach is significantly influenced by its tax planning.”
ANSWER:
Dear reviewer, we have added the punctuation marks.
Hence, based on the arguments presented above, it can be hypothesized that:
H1: The firm’s CSR approach is significantly and positively influenced by its tax planning.
- In page 6, paragraph 5, line 2, eliminate the parenthesis, it is the beginning of a sentence: “…activities of a firm. (Peng, 2017) found that CSR…”; in the same page, paragraph, in line 5 add the following preposition: “…to the academic experience of the” After this same paragraph, there is missing a punctuation mark at the end of the following sentence, please add it: “Based on the arguments presented above, it can be hypnotized that:”
ANSWER:
Dear reviewer, we have added the preposition and punctuation mark. All citations are added through Mendeley and by default all citations are in parenthesis.
- In page 7, in the title of point 3, please remove the “:” – “Data and methodology:”
ANSWER:
Dear reviewer, we have removed the sign.
1. Data and methodology
1.1. Data
The study data is collected from the Security and Commodity Authority’s (SCA) annual reports and annual financial reports of each firm, covering 2014 to 2020. For empirical estimations, we use the fixed-effect method and random effect method for robust estimations. The focus of this study is on public firms of UAE listed on Abu Dhabi Security Market and Dubai Financial Market. However, due to out of scope from MCGC applications, all financial firms are excluded from the analysis. The main sectors of the UAE economy include “Real Estate, Banks, Investment and Financial Services, Energy, Telecommunication, Insurance, Industrial, Consumer Stables, Services, Debt Instrument, Electronically Traded Fund and Transportation.” Initially, the current study included 86 firms in the sample due to the MCGC scope of application. However, few firms are excluded from the sample due to their listing after 2013. Similarly, firms owned by other countries are also excluded leaving a final sample size of 55 firms.
- In page 14, please change the verb tenses as follows: “Authors contributions: Nadia designed the main idea and writing. Rida Waheed did performed the analysis and reviewed the Suleman has reviewed the draft.”
ANSWER:
Dear reviewer, we have changed the verb tenses.
Authors contributions: Nadia designed the main idea and writing. Rida Waheed did performed the analysis and reviewed the manuscript. Suleman has reviewed the draft. Ghazal has drafted and reviewed the manuscript.
The methodology used in the study is well presented, structured and organized. The results and the conclusions achieved are clear and give a great contribute to this matter. The work was done with thoroughness and detail, which contributed to the good quality of the study.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear Authors,
the work has been sufficiently revised and can be published in the present form.
Thank you for your effort.
Author Response
Dear Authors,
the work has been sufficiently revised and can be published in the present form.
Thank you for your effort.
ANSWER:
Dear Reviewer, thanks for your gentle comments and acceptance of this paper.
