Effect Of Board Gender Diversity Research Articles

Does board gender diversity improve stock liquidity?

PurposeFirms with gender diverse boards have been shown to have increased transparency and disclosure, resulting in reduced information asymmetry, which is a key factor influencing stock liquidity. This paper explores the influence of information asymmetry resulting from board gender diversity on stock liquidity. We examine the impact of gender diverse firms on stock liquidity in US listed firms from 2006 to 2022, capturing 28,280 firm-year observations across 4,349 firms. Using mediation models, we distinguish between direct and mediated effects to examine the impact of gender diverse boards on three dimensions of stock liquidity. We find a positive and significant relation between board gender diversity and stock liquidity, and our findings highlight the substantial mediating role of information disclosure in this association. To address concerns of endogeneity, we use instrumental variables regression, and our conclusions remain robust to a range of alternatives.Design/methodology/approachTo investigate the association between board gender diversity and stock liquidity and the underling mechanism that drives the relation, we utilize a dataset comprising 4,349 listed US firms from 2006 to 2022. We adopt a comprehensive approach to measure stock liquidity that spans three dimensions: Amihud illiquidity (LIQ) as a representation of price impact, the quoted spread (SPREAD) to gauge transaction costs and the stock turnover (TURNOVER) to assess trading frequency. To evaluate board gender diversity, we examine female directors and female independent directors, utilizing both the percentage and the presence (as a binary variable).FindingsThe results of our analysis reveal not only a statistically significant effect of board gender diversity on liquidity but also demonstrate its economic significance. One standard deviation increase in the percentage of female directors (12% more female directors) is associated with a 5.8% decrease in price impact, a 5.1% reduction in transaction costs and a 3% increase in trading frequency. These findings highlight the material economic importance of the relationship, which stands in contrast to previous studies reporting only a 1% change in average stock liquidity in the Australian stock markets (Ahmed and Ali, 2017). To further investigate the underlying mechanism driving the association between board gender diversity and liquidity, we employ mediation models to separate the direct and mediated channels. Our results indicate that the effects of the percentage of female directors are mediated on liquidity (LIQ, SPREAD, and TURNOVER) through information disclosure, albeit with a relatively small magnitude (mediation proportion is 18.2, 3.9 and 22.9%, respectively).Research limitations/implicationsWe include a comprehensive set of variables in our analysis and adopt an instrumental approach to mitigate endogeneity concern. However, we acknowledge the possibility of omitted variable biases or reverse causality in our empirical analysis.Practical implicationsOur study contributes to the understanding of the association between board gender diversity and stock liquidity, focusing on the underlying mechanisms. Gender diversity on boards enhances corporate governance, leading to reduced managerial opportunism (Adams and Ferreira, 2009; Nielsen and Huse, 2010). This, in turn, increases information transparency and results in increased stock liquidity. By exploring the empirical evidence of the impact of gender diverse boards on stock liquidity through the information channel, we provide valuable insights to the existing literature. Our study uses US data to examine this association, addressing the small sample concerns of prior research that may have contributed to inconsistent findings.Social implicationsThis research can drive both economic and social transformations as it provides evidence that gender diverse boards lead to improved market outcomes.Originality/valueOur study differs from previous research by incorporating all three dimensions of liquidity, ensuring a comprehensive analysis. Through our investigation, we aim to deepen understanding of how gender diversity on corporate boards shapes market dynamics and contributes to understanding of corporate governance and market efficiency. Our study investigates how the impact occurs by employing mediation models to separate the direct and mediated channels of impact. We show that the effects of gender diverse boards on liquidity are mediated through information disclosure.

The moderating effect of board gender diversity in the environmental sustainability and financial performance nexus

The study investigates the moderating effect of board gender diversity on the relationship between environmental performance indicators (emissions, innovations, and resources) and financial performance. The study adopts a robust research design, drawing on a diverse sample of 6,104 companies operating in various countries. It employs a sophisticated panel data analysis with a fixed-effect model. The findings indicate a significant effect of environmental performance on financial performance. The results also reveal that higher gender diversity on a board is linked to lower returns on assets (ROA). Moreover, there is a positive interaction between management teams, board gender diversity, and financial performance. This study explores the relationship between corporate governance, environmental performance, and financial outcomes, offering practical insights for businesses, policymakers, and stakeholders. It also provides actionable insights for companies to align sustainability practices with financial success, enhancing their environmental stewardship and potentially improving financial performance. Policymakers can use this knowledge to design regulations and guidelines, while stakeholders, including investors and environmental advocacy groups, can use it to make informed decisions. The study's originality lies in its exploration of the moderating impact of board diversity on the relationship between firms' environmental performance and financial performance, using a large sample from different countries. As there is still a lack of consensus on the effect of environmental performance on financial performance, this study contributes to the understanding of corporate governance, environmental responsibility, and financial performance.

CSR as a catalyst: Examining the effects of board gender diversity on earnings management

AbstractThe importance of board gender diversity (BGD) is well recognized due to its potential to enhance corporate governance and bring diverse perspectives to decision‐making processes. However, empirical evidence on its benefits, particularly for earnings management (EM), remains inconclusive, reflecting the complex dynamics within corporate boards. Given the inconsistent BGD–EM relationship, researchers are left to examine how, if at all, the two are associated, often encountering mixed results that complicate the narrative. Building on agency and stakeholder perspectives, this paper provides deeper insights into the BGD–EM relationship, emphasizing the mediating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a catalyst that enables BGD to impact EM. We sample 10,252 firm‐year observations from publicly listed firms in 15 European countries from 2010 to 2020. The results show that BGD positively impacts CSR performance by indicating that diverse boards prioritize and implement socially responsible initiatives, leading to strategies that constrain EM practices through a culture of transparency and accountability. The results suggest that women directors are committed to enhancing CSR performance and restraining unethical activities such as financial manipulation and EM, reflecting their tendency to uphold higher ethical standards. Our findings alert firms to the need to focus not only on the importance of BGD but also on CSR activities to ensure higher earnings reporting quality and curb EM practices. By integrating BGD and CSR into their core strategies, firms can create a robust framework that mitigates the risks associated with EM. The results also have important implications for regulators, policymakers, and managers in understanding the drivers of higher EM practice quality. The results highlight the need for regulatory frameworks that encourage gender diversity and CSR, thereby promoting sustainable and ethical business practices.

How does board gender diversity drive the ESG performance‐cash holdings relationship? Evidence from China

AbstractThis study investigates the influence of board gender diversity on the relationship between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and corporate cash holdings in Chinese A‐share listed companies from 2015 to 2022. Our research shows that ESG performance is positively associated with cash holdings. Drawing on critical mass theory, the study finds a moderating effect of board gender diversity in the relationship between ESG performance and the cash‐holding relationship. Specifically, the study finds a negative relation between ESG performance and cash holdings with the presence of a single female board member. However, this relationship shifts to a highly positive association when three or more female directors are on the board, underscoring the significant impact of gender diversity. Further heterogeneity analysis reveals that firms with a younger age profile and a strong commitment to green innovation exhibit a negative relationship between ESG performance and cash holdings. These findings highlight the complex and dynamic nature of the ESG performance‐cash holdings relationship, which varies according to specific firm characteristics. Overall, this study offers valuable insights into the multifaceted dynamics of ESG factors, enhancing our understanding of their impact on corporate financial strategies.

A study of mediating and moderating effects on the relationship between audit quality and integrated reporting quality among Jordanian firms

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to investigate the link between external audit quality and integrated reporting (IR) quality in the Jordanian market, a developing market. Furthermore, the research model considers the mediating effect of earnings management practices and the moderating effect of board gender diversity. As a result, it intends to provide further empirical evidence in this area.Design/methodology/approachThis research investigates its model using data from Jordanian services companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) during the period 2013–2022. With 430 company-year observations, the current research’s sample includes all companies in the research population for which complete data were available during the period under investigation. Data relevant to the research setting were obtained from annual disclosures and the ASE's database.FindingsThe findings of this research show that audit firm size and audit firm specialty have a positive influence on IR quality, but audit firm tenure does not. External audit quality (as proxied by the size, specialty and turnover of the audit firm) had a negative impact on earnings management practices, while earnings management practices had a negative impact on IR quality. Additionally, the findings reveal that earnings management practices completely mediate the relationship between two external audit quality proxies (audit firm size and audit firm specialty) and IR quality. Furthermore, in terms of the moderating impact of board gender diversity, it is obvious that board gender diversity favorably moderates the relationships between all external audit quality proxies and IR quality.Originality/valueUsing agency theory and stakeholder theory, this investigation fills a gap in previous literature by adding scientific explanations and empirical evidence from the Jordanian market, a developing market, in the context of the impact of audit quality on IR quality, mediated by earnings management and moderated by board gender diversity.

Board gender diversity and default risk in a bank-based financial system: A pre-registered report

This pre-registered report investigates the mitigating effect of board gender diversity on default risk in Japanese firms. We will also examine the potential mitigating effect of close bank-firm relationships on default risk. Importantly, we seek to determine whether women on boards (WOB) complements or substitutes bank monitoring in mitigating the default risk in the bank-based (financial) system. Our study will provide insight into the regulatory discussions concerning the Corporate Governance (CG) code, which seeks to enhance WOB and contribute to the debate on “who are the effective monitors in mitigating default risk” in a bank-based system.

The Effect of Board Gender Diversity, Board Size, and Capital Structure on Firm Performance Moderated by Institutional Ownership

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of board gender diversity, board size, and capital structure on firm performance in energy sector companies listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange for the 2021–2023 period, which was moderated by institutional ownership. This study employed a purposive sampling technique, with a total sample size of 93 companies’ data. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program, specifically through moderated regression analysis. The results showed that board gender diversity and capital structure had no effect on firm performance, whereas board size had a negative effect. In addition, institutional ownership moderated the effect of board size and capital structure on firm performance; on the contrary, it did not moderate the effect of board gender diversity on firm performance.

Environmental disclosure as a response to civil liberties and political rights in countries, myth or reality? The moderating role performed by board gender diversity

AbstractThe influence of civil liberties and political rights on environmental disclosure, and the moderating effect of board gender diversity on the relationship between civil liberties and political rights and environmental disclosure, have not to date been studied in detail, as evidenced by the previous literature available. Therefore, this study aims to analyse how these institutional factors affect corporate environmental disclosure practices across different countries. The firms in our sample operate in 36 countries, spread across all the continents, and the period covered is 2009–2019. The database used to collect economic, social, environmental and governance data is Thomson Reuters' ASSET4, while the items for measuring civil liberty and political rights scores come from the Freedom House organisation (https://freedomhouse.org). The method used for estimating the model is the generalised method of moments (GMM) proposed by Arellano and Bond. The main findings of the study show that levels of civil liberty and political rights in the countries where the firms operate are positively associated with environmental disclosure. Furthermore, according to our evidence, the presence of female directors on boards plays a positive moderating role in the relationship between the level of civil liberty and environmental disclosure and between political rights and environmental disclosure. Additional robustness analyses corroborate our findings.

When R&D investment improves firm value: the role of board gender diversity

Purpose Agency theory postulates that research and development (R&D) investments are subject to managerial discretion and thus may not enhance firm value as expected. The inconclusive empirical findings in the literature is a testament of that. This paper aims to investigate the interplay between board gender diversity (i.e. women on boards) and value relevance of firms’ effort to innovate as indicated by firms’ R&D investments. Design/methodology/approach Through a sample of 1,626 US-listed firms from the period 2004 to 2019, the authors examine whether board gender diversity promotes or hampers value relevance of firms’ efforts to innovate. The authors use ordinary least squares as the baseline model and address potential endogeneity through instrumental variable two-stage least square, and selection bias through Heckman selection model. Finally, the authors use the financial crisis of 2008 as a natural experiment to investigate the effect of board gender diversity during the crisis period. Findings The results show that board gender diversity positively moderates the relation between R&D and firm value. In times of financial crisis, R&D does not destroy firm value in firms with gender diverse board. The results are robust to measurement error, endogeneity issue, particularly simultaneity and selection bias. Practical implications The findings in this study have several practical implications. Firms that invest heavily in R&D should be mindful of gender diversity in their board recruitment strategies to enhance innovation outputs and firm value. Current and potential investors (i.e. shareholders) should take into consideration board gender diversity in their investment decision-making processes as the results show that gender diverse boards promote more effective governance, which, in turn, leads to better alignment of R&D investments with shareholder value. Regulators aiming to improve corporate governance policies should encourage gender diversity on the boards. The results align with global initiatives such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5 on gender equality. Policymakers may use the findings in this study to advocate for more gender diverse governance structures within corporations. Originality/value This study investigates the role gender diverse boards play in creating value from firms’ R&D activities.

Moderating effect of board gender diversity on the relationship between prospector business strategy and financial performance: evidence from Indonesia

Moderating effect of board gender diversity on the relationship between prospector business strategy and financial performance: evidence from Indonesia

Board gender diversity and cyber security disclosure in the Indonesian banking industry: a two-tier governance context

PurposeThis study aims to determine the effect of board gender diversity on cyber security disclosure (CSD) in the banking sector of Indonesia as a developing country that adheres to a two-tier system.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a panel data of 47 banks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2014 to 2021. The board gender diversity is measured by three proxies, the proportion of women on the board, BLAU Index value and the critical mass of women. The authors used generalized method of moments estimation to eliminate the simultaneous equation bias.FindingsThe results show that the women board of commissioners increases CSD, and the women of board of directors/top management team were significantly negative for CSD.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, this research was only conducted in the banking sector. The results cannot be generalized to non-financial companies. Second, there is no measurement of the quality of the board from the level of education, experience, expertise and other characteristics of diversity such as age, nationality and religion.Practical implicationsThe study has revealed the need for the government’s role in providing oversight of the presence of women on the board so that banks fully comply with Indonesia Financial Services Authority regulations. Banks should also actively launch policies regarding the presence of women on the board to give a positive effect to stakeholders that women play an important role in decision making. Banks must also adjust the composition of female commissioners with a threshold of two people to maximize their function as supervisors.Originality/valueThis is the first research conducted on the banking sector in Indonesia as a developing country that adheres to a two-tier system. The results of this study provide evidence that patriarchal culture is still dominant in Indonesia.

CEO Power and Tax Avoidance in Malaysia: The Moderating Effect of Board Gender Diversity

CEO Power and Tax Avoidance in Malaysia: The Moderating Effect of Board Gender Diversity

Impact of board gender diversity on performance of public sector vis-à-vis private sector banks in India

PurposeThe Companies Act of 2013 stressed upon gender diversity in the board of management considering the significant role of women toward the success of an organization. Following it, both public and private sector banks in India implemented the act from 2015 onward. This study aims to investigate whether its implementation has improved board gender diversity uniformly across public and private sector banks. Furthermore, the authors study the impact of board gender diversity on the performance of public and private sector banks in India.Design/methodology/approachSecondary data on listed Indian commercial banks for the period 2015–2021 have been used in this study that encompasses 15 commercial and 12 public sector banks. Return on assets, return on equity and Tobin’s Q are considered as the banking performance indicators in this study, while gender diversity of the board is measured by using Blau index. Furthermore, generalized method of moments has been adopted to analyze the effect of board gender diversity on performance of the Indian banking sector.FindingsEmpirical results exhibit that board gender diversity has been gradually improving since 2015 in both public and private sector banks in India. However, board diversity in case of public sector banks is seen to be lower than that of private sector banks. Furthermore, this study found a significant impact of board diversity on the performance indicators of both public and private sector banks.Practical implicationsThis study gives a clear picture that board diversity of both public and private banks has remained quite low over the years. Apparently, women representation has been found to be less than 50% throughout the period of 2015–2021. As board diversity has significant impact on banking performance, it is important on the part of banks to take proper steps to improve the board diversity.Originality/valueThis study has added to the existing literature by highlighting on the divergence between gender diversity across public and private sector banks in India. It emphasizes on the need to improve gender diversity by a significant increase in the proportion of women in the board to create an impact on decision-making.

Detection Determinants of Bank Sustainability Report

Abstract Purpose - This study aims to determine the effect of board gender diversity, narcissism, and audit committee meeting intensity on sustainability reports in the banking company sub-sector listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) for 2018-2022. Design/methodology/approach - This study is a quantitative study that uses secondary data, namely data that has been processed in finished form and has been published. The population in this study are banking company sub-sector listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) for 2018-2022. The sample in this study was 12 companies with five years of observation using purposive sampling techniques to obtain 60 samples. The data analysis techniques used in this study are classical assumption test analysis, multiple linear regression test, correlation test, determination test, and t-test using SPSS 27 software. Findings - The results showed board gender diversity has a negative effect on sustainability reports, narcissism does not affect sustainability report, and audit committee meeting intensity has a positive effect on sustainability reports.Research limitations/implications - This research also provides a basis for further research into the relationship between organizational factors, leadership, and sustainability. Keywords: Board Gender Diversity, Narcissism, Audit Committee, and Sustainability Report Disclosure

Moderating role of board gender diversity and firm size on the relationship between free cash flow and corporate sustainability of Thai listed companies

This study seeks to explore the information value of free cash flow (FCF) on corporate sustainability and investigate the moderating effects of board gender diversity and firm size on the association between FCF and corporate sustainability of Thai listed companies. The dataset consists of companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) in 2022. Multivariate regression analysis is executed in this study. Subsequently, PROCESS macro served to evaluate the proposed hypotheses. This study found that FCF has a significant positive relationship with corporate sustainability. As well, board gender diversity and firm size both moderate the relationship between FCF and corporate sustainability, such that the positive effect of FCF on corporate sustainability is stronger when the proportion of female boards diminishes, while firm size is smaller. However, when firms have a larger proportion of females on the boards of directors for all levels of firm size, free cash flow indicates that there is no statistically significant effect on corporate sustainability. This study contributes to FCF and sustainability literature by understanding the extent of corporate sustainability.

Environmental, social, governance and gender diversity under the adoption of European Di-rective 2014/95/EU

Research Question: Does Gender Diversity positively or negatively affect the non-financial information on ESG? Motivation: This research explores the connection between ESG and the synthesis of the Board of Directors. More explicitly, we explore if the board's Gender Diversity improves non-financial information on ESG. Also, the effect of board gender diversity on ESG is under investigation as the findings in the current literature about the synthesis of board gender diversity are mixed. Considering this gap, this research tries to understand if Gender Diversity positively or negatively affects the non-financial information on ESG. Idea: This research article aims to study the relationship between gender diversity on board and European companies' environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings. It also examines the potential impact of European Directive 2014/95/EU, which re-quires disclosure of non-financial information, on this relationship. Data: The investigation used the dataset of 5,380 observations from 20 European countries from 2013 to 2022. Tools: The association between the ESG ratings and control variables was examined using regression analysis. Findings: The investigation results confirm a statistically significant impact between gender diversity and ESG performance ratings. The findings confirm conclusions drawn in other research studies. The adoption and enforcement of EU Directive 2014/95/EU had a remarkable and positive impact on European firms' ESG policies, as shown by statistical significance in several regression models. Gender diversity on company boards positively impacted all ESG models except the Governance Pillar Score. The investigation shows the importance of board synthesis, gender diversity, and additional variables concerning ESG reporting practices. Contribution: This research explores the connection between ESG and the synthesis of the Board of Directors. More explicitly, we explore if the board's Gender Diversity improves non-financial information on ESG. Also, the effect of board gender diversity on ESG is under investigation as the findings in the current literature about the synthe-sis of board gender diversity are mixed. Considering this gap, this research tries to understand if Gender Diversity positively or negatively affects the non-financial in-formation on ESG.

More female, better corporate performance? Evidence from Chinese listed companies

This study investigates the effects of board gender diversity on corporate performance. Using data from Chinese listed companies spanning the period 2011 to 2020, we explore the effects of board gender diversity on internal and external corporate performance. Our findings reveal that a higher number female executive board is associated with a decline in internal corporate performance. Conversely, an increase in the proportion of female executives generally correlates with an improvement in external corporate performance. Moreover, our analysis indicates no significant impact of gender diversity on financial performance. These findings contribute the literature by offering more nuanced and specific insights into the relationship between board gender diversity and corporate performance.

How do gender diversity and CEO profile impact dividend policy in banking? Evidence from Islamic and conventional banks

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the determinants of the dividend distribution policy in a banking setting.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of 48 Islamic banks and 94 conventional banks from 15 Islamic countries over a period spanning from 2012 to 2019, we document the effect of board gender diversity, executive director profile and governance mechanisms on dividend payment decisions. We also analyze the moderating effect of Islamic banks on the relationship between gender diversity and dividend policy.FindingsWe find new evidence on the role of women directors in determining dividend distribution policy and confirm the risk aversion hypothesis, hence contributing to the ongoing debate on gender diversity literature. Our results show that the moderating role of Islamic banks is effective only for small banks.Practical implicationsOur findings have practical implications for shareholders, managers and financial analysts as they suggest rationalizing dividend distribution strategies.Originality/valueOur study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on dividend policy, gender diversity and Islamic banks.

The Effect of Board Gender Diversity on the Company: A Literature Review

This study explores the influence of gender diversity in boards of directors on various aspects of corporate performance. Through the literature review method, this research gathers empirical evidence to assess how gender diversity affects risk-taking, social responsibility, and decision-making processes within the firm. The results show that the presence of women on boards can contribute positively to corporate performance, innovation, investment, and ESG issues, while bringing diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise that support more effective decision-making and risk management. On the other hand, the study also recognizes that underrepresentation of women may reduce the benefits of gender diversity. Furthermore, the presence of women on boards is associated with reduced agency problems, increased dividend payouts and more responsible tax avoidance practices. However, there are mixed views regarding the impact of gender diversity, emphasizing the importance of considering the firm-specific context in evaluating the impact of gender diversity on firm performance. This study contributes to future research by providing a broader and deeper knowledge base on the topic of gender diversity in the context of business and management.

BOARD GENDER DIVERSITY AND FINANCIAL INCLUSION: EVIDENCE FROM THE GLOBAL MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY

This study examines the effect of board gender diversity within Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) on their ability to acquire new borrowers, a key indicator of progress toward achieving the financial inclusion agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Utilizing an unbalanced panel dataset consisting of 1,450 unique MFIs operating in 106 countries over the period of 2010–2018, this study deployed various econometric models, including the Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (POLS), Random Effects Model (REM), and Fixed Effects Model (FEM). Rigorous measures, including endogeneity-corrected techniques, alternative proxies for board gender diversity such as the BLAU index and sub-sample analyses were applied to ensure the reliability and robustness of our results. The study’s findings indicated a positive association between board gender diversity and financial inclusion within MFIs. However, the statistical significance of these outcomes varied depending on the specific analytical techniques, sub-samples, and alternative proxies used during the research. Overall, this study offers implications for practitioners and policymakers, encouraging women’s participation in the boardrooms of MFIs to advance the financial inclusion agenda of the SDGs.