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Gender Diversity on Boards and Firms’ Environmental Policy

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Listed:
  • Ji Li
  • Fuqiang Zhao
  • Silu Chen
  • Wanxing Jiang
  • Tao Liu
  • Shengping Shi

Abstract

This paper tests the relationship between gender diversity on boards and firms’ environmental policy. Based on prior research, we predict that gender diversity on boards of directors should have a positive relationship with firms’ environmental policy. Moreover, firm character in terms of pollution creation likelihood moderates the relationship between gender diversity on boards and firms’ environmental policy. Analyzing data from 865 publicly listed firms in the United States, we found direct and significant empirical evidence for our predictions. According to the findings, we highlight the importance of gender diversity for the development of good firm environmental policy as well as for the improvement of corporate governance. Moreover, the more likely firms in a given industry are to cause environmental pollution, the more salient will be the beneficial effect of gender diversity on boards on firms’ environmental policy in the industry. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

Suggested Citation

  • Ji Li & Fuqiang Zhao & Silu Chen & Wanxing Jiang & Tao Liu & Shengping Shi, 2017. "Gender Diversity on Boards and Firms’ Environmental Policy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 306-315, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:26:y:2017:i:3:p:306-315
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.1918
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    2. Binh Bui & Muhammad Nurul Houqe & Mahbub Zaman, 2021. "Climate change mitigation: Carbon assurance and reporting integrity," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 3839-3853, December.
    3. Saleh F. A. Khatib & Dewi Fariha Abdullah & Ahmed A. Elamer & Raed Abueid, 2021. "Nudging toward diversity in the boardroom: A systematic literature review of board diversity of financial institutions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 985-1002, February.
    4. Abubakr Saeed & Syed Shafqat Mukarram & Yacine Belghitar, 2021. "Read between the lines: Board gender diversity, family ownership, and risk‐taking in Indian high‐tech firms," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(1), pages 185-207, January.
    5. Bart Manning & Geert Braam & Daniel Reimsbach, 2019. "Corporate governance and sustainable business conduct—Effects of board monitoring effectiveness and stakeholder engagement on corporate sustainability performance and disclosure choices," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(2), pages 351-366, March.
    6. Mônica Cavalcanti Sá de Abreu & Romulo Alves Soares & Victor Daniel‐Vasconcelos & Vicente Lima Crisóstomo, 2023. "Does board diversity encourage an environmental policy focused on resource use, emission reduction and innovation? The case of companies in Latin America," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1161-1176, May.
    7. Francesco Gangi & Lucia Michela Daniele & Eugenio D'Angelo & Nicola Varrone & Maria Coscia, 2023. "The impact of board gender diversity on banks' environmental policy: The moderating role of gender inequality in national culture," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1273-1291, May.
    8. Mohamed H. Elmagrhi & Collins G. Ntim & Ahmed A. Elamer & Qingjing Zhang, 2019. "A study of environmental policies and regulations, governance structures, and environmental performance: The role of female directors," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 206-220, January.
    9. Simona Galletta & Sebastiano Mazzù & Valeria Naciti & Carlo Vermiglio, 2022. "Gender diversity and sustainability performance in the banking industry," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(1), pages 161-174, January.

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