CEO Power, Corporate Tax Avoidance and Tax Aggressiveness

My thesis investigates the association between CEO power, corporate tax avoidance and tax aggressiveness, using two organizational theory perspectives: self-interest and stewardship. I find that a powerful CEO engages in less corporate tax avoidance activities, which lends credence to the risk minimization motive of the stewardship perspective. My findings on the association between CEO power and tax aggressiveness show that powerful CEOs avoid risky tax avoidance strategies that expose a firm to the various tax-related risks, cash flow diminution and reputational concerns associated with aggressive tax avoidance. As such, the results offer further support to the stewardship perspective.