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Purpose This study aims to explore the moderating role of board gender diversity (BGD) in the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms (i.e. board size, board independence, chief executive officer (CEO) gender, CEO duality and ownership concentration) and firm risk-taking. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of 192 non-financial publicly traded Italian firms over 2014–2018, this study tests the proposed research hypotheses and assess the moderating effect of BGD. Findings Drawing on agency theory and resource dependence theory, this study finds a significant relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and firm risk-taking, which is significantly moderated by BGD. BGD accentuates the negative effect of board size, independent directors, CEO gender and CEO duality on firm systematic risk and attenuates the positive impact of CEO duality on firm unsystematic risk. The results, which are consistent with the risk-reduction effect of BGD, are robust to the use of alternative measures of firm risk-taking. Practical implications Women’s presence on corporate boards plays a critical role in the board’s involvement in risk-taking. Hence, investors and stakeholders should consider women on corporate boards as a crucial risk-mitigating factor. Originality/value This paper contributes to our knowledge on risk management by demonstrating the moderating role of BGD while relating corporate governance mechanisms and firm risk-taking.

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This paper examines the role of debt financing in the relationship between corporate governance and research and development (R&D) investment using a sample of publicly traded U.S. pharmaceutical firms from 2009 to 2018. The results show a positive and significant association between corporate governance mechanisms (such as board size, board independence, board gender diversity, and ownership concentration) and R&D investment and a negative and significant association between debt financing and R&D investment. In addition, we show that debt financing plays a moderating role and a partial mediating role in the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and R&D investment. Specifically, debt financing attenuates the negative effect of board size on R&D investment and accentuates the positive effect of ownership concentration on R&D investment. Our study helps to shed light on a close and complex relationship existing between the firm’s choices of corporate governance, debt financing, and R&D investments, which the previous literature has so far examined in a partial and fragmented way. To ensure effective R&D investment, firms need to consider the effect of debt financing on corporate governance decisions.