Financial Experts on the Outside Boards, Financial Stress in Foreign Exchange Markets, and Firm Employment

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examines the role of financial experts on the outside boards on firm-level employment decisions under financial stress in foreign exchange markets (FSIFX). Using firm-level data from the manufacturing industry in South Korea from 2001 through 2019, we observe in the Korean FSIFX a negative relationship with employment. We also find that including a financial expert as an outside director plays a significant role in varying the FSIFX-employment relationship. Specifically, the presence of a financial expert on the firm’s outside board contributes to reducing the negative effects of FSIFX on employment. Moreover, these findings are particularly noteworthy for firms that carry steep export ratios.