Gender diversity in the Italian boardroom and firm financial performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niccolò Gordini ◽  
Elisa Rancati
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Gender Quotas ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Law System ◽  
Firm Financial Performance ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
The Right

Purpose This study aims to analyse the relationship between board gender diversity and firm financial performance in Italy, where the recently enforced Law 120/2011 prescribes gender quotas for boards of directors. Design/methodology/approach Panel data analysis was used to examine the gender diversity–firm financial performance relationship in an unbalanced panel of 918 Italian listed companies during the years 2011-2014. Findings Gender diversity, as measured by the percentage of women on a board and by the Blau and the Shannon indices, has a positive and significant effect on Tobin’s Q, while the presence of one or more women on the board per se has an insignificant effect on firm financial performance. Practical implications The results suggest that board gender diversity is not a simple “numbers game”, greater gender diversity may generate economic gains, greater gender diversity does not destroy shareholder value, investors do not penalize companies that increase female representation on their boards and Italian companies should focus their efforts on the right mix of men and women rather than on simply the presence of at least one woman on a board of directors. Originality/value Most articles on this topic use data from countries with a legal system based on common law; this paper analyses Italy, a country with a civil law system. This is almost certainly the first study to examine the effect of board gender diversity on firm financial performance in the Italian market.

Board gender diversity, board compensation and firm performance. Evidence from Jordan

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taha Almarayeh
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Firm Financial Performance ◽  
Board Compensation ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to analyze the relationship between board gender diversity, board compensation and firm financial performance in the developing country, Jordan, whose cultural, economic and institutional context is very different from most previously analyzed countries’ context. Design/methodology/approach Ordinary least squares regression was used to examine the association between board gender diversity, board compensation and firm financial performance in a sample of 510 firm-year observations during the years 2009–2018. Generalized least squares estimation method was used to confirm that the results are robust. Findings The author provides new evidence that board gender diversity does not contribute to firm financial performance. The author also detects that there is a positive relationship between board compensation on firm financial performance. Originality/value This paper examines the under-researched relationship between board gender diversity, board compensation and firm financial performance. In so doing, the author tries to provide new insights into this relationship within the developing context, the case of Jordan that has a different environment from that of advanced markets. To the best of the researcher’s knowledge, this is almost certainly the first research to investigate the impact of board gender diversity and board compensation on firm financial performance in the Jordanian market. This manuscript is expected to be used as a reference by the regulators and policymakers – both in Jordan and other countries with a similar institutional, cultural setting – to provide a deep understanding of the impact of board gender diversity and board compensation on the firm performance.

The effect of board gender diversity on firm performance: evidence from Turkey

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 434-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merve Kılıç ◽  
Cemil Kuzey
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Return On Equity ◽  
Firm Financial Performance ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
Return On Sales ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to include two primary goals. First to determine the board characteristics of listed companies in Turkey and second to investigate the effect of board gender diversity on the performance of these companies. Design/methodology/approach This study uses an instrumental variables regression analysis to investigate the relationship between board gender diversity and firm performance using the data from 2008-2012 of the entities listed on the Borsa Istanbul. Findings The results indicate that the boards of these companies in Turkey are male-dominated. Moreover, this study shows that the inclusion of female directors is positively related to the financial performance of firms, as measured by the return on assets, the return on equity and the return on sales. Originality/value Limited empirical studies have been conducted on the relationship between board gender diversity and firm performance in emerging economies. Therefore, there is still no consensus regarding the link between board gender diversity and firm financial performance based upon the mixed and sometimes contradictory results in prior research. Therefore, this study extends the current literature in the context of Turkey, showing that a female member on the board can enhance the financial performance of a company.

Board gender diversity: performance and risk of Brazilian firms

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Mastella ◽  
Daniel Vancin ◽  
Marcelo Perlin ◽  
Guilherme Kirch
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Firm Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Female Presence ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to intend to check if female board representation affects performance and risk and to analyse the evolution of the demographic aspects of the presence of women on boards in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a sample of 150 Brazilian publicly traded companies from 2010–2018, with different measures of firm performance, firm risk and women’s presence on the board. The study approach is based on a set of ordinary least squares, quantile and panel data regressions. Findings The presence of women on the board has a positive effect on all of our accounting and market performance measures. However, the result of the impact on risk is not conclusive. The study also found that the number of females on the board has a more significant effect at the lower levels of firm performance measured by return on equity, but at the higher levels when measured by Tobin’s Q. Regarding return on assets, the more significant effect happened on the extremes of the performance distribution. The study findings point that market investors place more value in female presence on the board than in director positions. Originality/value By estimating the impact of women’s presence on the boards of directors in firm performance and risk, this study aimed to verify this impact in different aspects of the company. In addition, the authors did so in a sample with many years, making it possible to evaluate the historical evolution of the feminine presence in the boards of administration as well as in the groups of directors, assisting Brazilian legislators with new evidence about the possible impacts of Draft Law 7179/2017.

Does board gender diversity matter? Evidence from hostile takeover vulnerability

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pattanaporn Chatjuthamard ◽  
Pornsit Jiraporn ◽  
Sang Mook Lee ◽  
Ali Uyar ◽  
Merve Kilic
Keyword(s):  
Causal Effect ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Dynamic Panel Data ◽  
Governance Mechanism ◽  
State Legislation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
Takeover Market

Purpose Theory suggests that the market for corporate control, which constitutes an important external governance mechanism, may substitute for internal governance. Consistent with this notion, using a novel measure of takeover vulnerability primarily based on state legislation, this paper aims to investigate the effect of the takeover market on board characteristics with special emphasis on board gender diversity. Design/methodology/approach This paper exploits a novel measure of takeover vulnerability based on state legislation. This novel measure is likely exogenous as the legislation was imposed from outside the firm. By using an exogenous measure, the analysis is less vulnerable to endogeneity and is thus more likely to show a causal effect. Findings The results show that a more active takeover market leads to lower board gender diversity. Specifically, a rise in takeover vulnerability by one standard deviation results in a decline in board gender diversity by 10.01%. Moreover, stronger takeover market susceptibility also brings about larger board size and less board independence, corroborating the substitution effect. Additional analysis confirms the results, including propensity score matching, generalized method of moments dynamic panel data analysis and instrumental variable analysis. Originality/value The study is the first to explore the effect of the takeover market on board gender diversity. Unlike most of the previous research in this area, which suffers from endogeneity, this paper uses a novel measure of takeover vulnerability that is probably exogenous. The results are thus much more likely to demonstrate causality.

Women representation on boards: a South African perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gizelle Willows ◽  
Megan van der Linde
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Critical Mass ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Company Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Board Of Directors

Purpose By looking at both theoretical and empirical findings, this study aims to investigate whether gender diversity results in improved corporate governance and financial performance for companies. Design/methodology/approach An analysis of the board composition of the Johannesburg Securities Exchange Top 40 companies as at 30 June 2013 and a comparison of the financial performance of the company were conducted. Findings Female directors were found to make up, on average, 18.78 per cent of the board of directors, with the majority of these women being in non-executive positions. Women representation appears to influence company performance positively when using accounting-based measures of performance (such as return on assets and return on equity), but negatively when using market-based measures (such as Tobin’s Q). The critical mass concept is also assessed and is found to have a positive effect. Originality/value These findings are of relevance to the boards of directors adhering to corporate governance requirements by challenging the role of women on the board of directors, as well as that of investors and those in practice, to understand the current status of women representation.

Contextualizing comprehensive board diversity and firm financial performance: Integrating market, management and shareholder’s perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 634-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohail Hassan ◽  
Maran Marimuthu
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Muslim Women ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Board Diversity ◽  
Firm Financial Performance

AbstractThe study investigates demographic diversity, cognitive diversity and internal diversity within Islam among top-level management of firms and their impacts on the financial performance of Malaysian-listed companies. In addition, Muslim and non-Muslim women and Islamic religious diversity on corporate boards are investigated. Even though numerous organisations desire to be socially diverse, the significance of diversity for organisational performance remains uncertain. Are profitable companies inclined to improve board diversity or do other characteristics of the company contribute to firm performance? Does the participation of Muslim and non-Muslim women on corporate boards affect firm performance? Does internal diversity within Islam affect firm performance? Data from 330 Malaysian-listed companies in eleven full fledged sectors were used for the period from 2009 to 2013. This study employed econometrics methodology from panel data analysis to fill the research gap in the current management literature. This study used the interaction approach to examine empirically diverse corporate boards and their impacts on firm performance. This discussion included: (1) a combination of gender diversity and ethnic diversity and (2) a combination of gender diversity and foreign participation. The findings suggest that demographic, cognitive and internal diversity within Islam are significant predictors of a firm’s financial performance. Ethnic women on boards have a significant and negative impact on firm performance. Hence, companies having high profits are more accountable for encouraging diversity among top-level management.

Corporate governance and financial performance of state-owned enterprises in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Ochien’g Abang’a ◽  
Venancio Tauringana ◽  
David Wang’ombe ◽  
Laura Obwona Achiro
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Code Of Corporate Governance

Purpose This paper aims to report the results of an investigation into the effect of aggregate and individual corporate governance factors on the financial performance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses balanced panel data regression analysis on a sample of 45 SOEs in Kenya for a four-year period (2015–2018). Findings The panel data analysis results show that board meetings, board skill and gender diversity individual provisions of corporate governance are significantly and positively associated with capital budget realization ratio (CBRR). Moreover, the study finds that aggregate corporate governance disclosure index, board sub-committees, board size and independent non-executive directors are positive but insignificantly related to CBRR. Research limitations/implications The current study is based on secondary data, other methods of knowledge inquiry such as interviews and questionnaires may provide additional insights on the effectiveness of corporate governance on financial performance. Practical implications Overall, the results imply that corporate governance influences the performance of SOEs in Kenya. The results suggest that Mwongozo Code of Corporate Governance provisions should be changed to increase the number of women representations on board and the number of directors with doctoral qualifications because of their positive impact on the financial performance of SOEs in Kenya. Also, policymakers with remit over SOEs should re-evaluate why other corporate governance appear not to have an impact with a view of making the necessary changes. Originality/value The paper contributes to the dearth of literature on the efficacy of corporate governance on the financial performance of SOEs in developing countries.

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