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Board gender diversity and the technical efficiency of microfinance institutions: Does size matter?

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  • Adusei, Michael

Abstract

Does board gender diversity promote technical efficiency? Does the size of a microfinance institution (MFI) moderate the relation between board gender diversity and technical efficiency? This paper empirically addresses these two important questions with data (2010–2014) from 418 MFIs located in 64 countries. Contrary to the evidence from previous research, the paper demonstrates that board gender diversity hurts technical efficiency. The robustness of this finding is established by a number of techniques including endogeneity test. However, an interaction analysis establishes that board gender diversity interacts with the size of an MFI to positively drive technical efficiency.

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  • Adusei, Michael, 2019. "Board gender diversity and the technical efficiency of microfinance institutions: Does size matter?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 393-411.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:64:y:2019:i:c:p:393-411
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2019.07.008
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    2. Ilyes Abidi & Mariem Nsaibi, 2022. "Does Gender Diversity on Boards Influence Stock Market Liquidity? Empirical Evidence from the Tunisian Market," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 12(3), pages 110-120, May.
    3. Fall, François Seck & Tchakoute Tchuigoua, Hubert & Vanhems, Anne & Simar, Léopold, 2022. "Investigating the unobserved heterogeneity effect on microfinance social efficiency," LIDAM Discussion Papers ISBA 2022010, Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Statistics, Biostatistics and Actuarial Sciences (ISBA).
    4. Weili Huang, 2021. "Threshold effect of gender composition in the top management team on firm innovation: New evidence from China," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(3), pages 551-563, April.
    5. Beatrice Sarpong‐Danquah & Michael Adusei & Joseph Magnus Frimpong, 2023. "Effect of board gender diversity on the financial performance of microfinance institutions: Does judicial efficiency matter?," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(2), pages 495-518, June.
    6. Fall, F.S. & Tchakoute Tchuigoua, H. & Vanhems, A. & Simar, L., 2021. "Gender effect on microfinance social efficiency: A robust nonparametric approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 295(2), pages 744-757.
    7. 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.
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    9. Michael Adusei, 2022. "The liquidity risk–financial performance nexus: Evidence from hybrid financial institutions," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(1), pages 31-47, January.
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    11. Mia, Md Aslam, 2022. "Do women on boards affect employee benefits? Evidence from the global microfinance industry," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Board gender diversity; Microfinance; Microfinance institutions; Technical efficiency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General

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