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Board risk oversight and environmental and social performance

Author

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  • Amiraslani, Hami
  • Deller, Carolyn
  • Ittner, Christopher D.
  • Keusch, Thomas

Abstract

We examine the relation between board risk oversight and environmental and social (E&S) performance. Our study is motivated by heightened awareness of E&S risks and growing calls for their inclusion in the purview of board risk oversight. Using a novel proprietary dataset on board risk oversight for an international sample, we find that firms with more extensive board risk oversight are more likely to institute E&S compensation, set environmental (but not social) targets, adopt policies that address E&S risks and opportunities, and issue an E&S report. Our exploratory evidence also shows that more extensive board risk oversight is associated with better environmental outcomes, specifically lower monetized environmental costs, but worse social outcomes, namely lower monetized employee benefits and a higher likelihood of social risk incidents. Our results suggest that risk oversight is analogous to a constrained optimization problem whereby risk exposures are prioritized and receive different degrees of oversight consideration by the board.

Suggested Citation

  • Amiraslani, Hami & Deller, Carolyn & Ittner, Christopher D. & Keusch, Thomas, 2025. "Board risk oversight and environmental and social performance," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(2).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:79:y:2025:i:2:s0165410124000843
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2024.101754
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Board of directors; Board risk oversight; Corporate governance; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); Environmental Social and Governance (ESG); Sustainability; Risk management;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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