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Board/Executive Gender Diversity and Firm Financial Performance in Canada: The Mediating Role of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Orientation

Author

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  • Zeineb Ouni

    (Department of Economics and Finance, School of Management, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières, 3351 des Forges BLVD., P.O. Box 500, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, Canada
    The first two authors contributed equally to this manuscript.)

  • Jamal Ben Mansour

    (Department of Human Resources Management, School of Management, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières, 3351 des Forges BLVD., P.O. Box 500, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, Canada
    The first two authors contributed equally to this manuscript.)

  • Sana Arfaoui

    (Banque Nationale du Canada, 201, boul. Curé Labelle, Laval, QC H7V 2R9, Canada)

Abstract

The objective of this study is to verify the effect of gender diversity on the board of directors (BD) and the executive committee (EC) of participating Canadian firms with regard to the financial performance and the mediating role of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) orientation in this relationship. The study sample was composed of 133 Canadian firms, and the data cover an 18 year timeline (2002–2019), with 925 observations. This paper provides empirical support for the effect that gender diversity in turnover has on the financial performance of firms and explains 53% of its variance. In addition to supporting the beneficial effect of gender diversity on performance, the study reveals the mediating mechanism through the ESG orientation of companies explaining almost 4% of the total effect of gender diversity on performance. By analyzing two levels of diversity, the study revealed the superiority of the effect of gender diversity in BDs as compared to ECs. We discuss the theoretical and empirical implications of the results found, as well as the limitations and future prospects of research on the subject.

Suggested Citation

  • Zeineb Ouni & Jamal Ben Mansour & Sana Arfaoui, 2020. "Board/Executive Gender Diversity and Firm Financial Performance in Canada: The Mediating Role of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Orientation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:20:p:8386-:d:426688
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Jaime F. Lavin & Alejandro A. Montecinos-Pearce, 2021. "ESG Disclosure in an Emerging Market: An Empirical Analysis of the Influence of Board Characteristics and Ownership Structure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Ishwar Khatri, 2023. "Board gender diversity and sustainability performance: Nordic evidence," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1495-1507, May.
    4. Marko Hakovirta & Navodya Denuwara & Peter Topping & Jorma Eloranta, 2023. "The corporate executive leadership team and its diversity: impact on innovativeness and sustainability of the bioeconomy," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
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    6. Anrafel Souza Barbosa & Maria Cristina Basilio Crispim Silva & Luiz Bueno Silva & Sandra Naomi Morioka & Vinícius Fernandes Souza, 2023. "Integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria: their impacts on corporate sustainability performance," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, December.

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