IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/corsem/v32y2025i3p3193-3209.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Board Characteristics and Stakeholder Engagement and ESG Performance: The Relevance of European Gender Parity

Author

Listed:
  • Alfredo Grau‐Grau
  • Manuel Branco
  • Inmaculada Bel‐Oms

Abstract

The main goal of this study is to explore the effect of country‐level gender parity with a board characteristics and stakeholder engagement on ESG performance in sustainable companies. The sample comprises 940 sustainable international sustainable firm‐year observations from the following 13 countries: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom for the period 2013–2022. The results provide evidence that country‐level gender parity moderate negatively the effect of board gender diversity and busy directors on boards and ESG performance. Furthermore, the findings also show that country‐level gender parity moderate positively the effect of stakeholder engagement and ESG performance. When the ESG performance is separate in the three pillars, the results find that country‐level gender parity moderate negatively the effect of board gender diversity and busy directors on boards and governance performance while this effect is positively in the association between stakeholder engagement and governance performance. These results suggest that the governance pillar influence notably in the ESG performance. This study contributes to the scant research exploring the variation in the relationships between boards of directors' characteristics and ESG performance by focusing on one seldom explored of such sources, gender parity.

Suggested Citation

  • Alfredo Grau‐Grau & Manuel Branco & Inmaculada Bel‐Oms, 2025. "Board Characteristics and Stakeholder Engagement and ESG Performance: The Relevance of European Gender Parity," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(3), pages 3193-3209, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:32:y:2025:i:3:p:3193-3209
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.3082
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.3082
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/csr.3082?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jason Zhang & Hong Zhu & Hung-bin Ding, 2013. "Board Composition and Corporate Social Responsibility: An Empirical Investigation in the Post Sarbanes-Oxley Era," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 114(3), pages 381-392, May.
    2. Schoonjans, Eline, 2024. "From diversity to sustainability: Environmental and social spillover effects of board gender quotas," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 314-331.
    3. Alexander Dyck & Karl V. Lins & Lukas Roth & Mitch Towner & Hannes F. Wagner, 2023. "Renewable Governance: Good for the Environment?," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 61(1), pages 279-327, March.
    4. Zhu, Jigao & Ye, Kangtao & Tucker, Jennifer Wu & Chan, Kam (Johnny) C., 2016. "Board hierarchy, independent directors, and firm value: Evidence from China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 262-279.
    5. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    6. Priti Yadav & Anshul Jain, 2023. "Sustainability disclosures and corporate boards: a stakeholder approach to decision-making," Journal of Applied Accounting Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 24(5), pages 1027-1047, April.
    7. Haque, Faizul, 2017. "The effects of board characteristics and sustainable compensation policy on carbon performance of UK firms," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 347-364.
    8. Ayman Issa & Mohammad A. A. Zaid & Jalal Rajeh Hanaysha, 2022. "Exploring the relationship between female director's profile and sustainability performance: Evidence from the Middle East," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(6), pages 1980-2002, September.
    9. Belaounia, Samia & Tao, Ran & Zhao, Hong, 2020. "Gender equality's impact on female directors’ efficacy: A multi-country study," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(5).
    10. Ahmed A. Elamer & Mounia Boulhaga, 2024. "ESG controversies and corporate performance: The moderating effect of governance mechanisms and ESG practices," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 3312-3327, July.
    11. María Consuelo Pucheta‐Martínez & Inmaculada Bel‐Oms & Mehdi Nekhili, 2019. "The contribution of financial entities to the sustainable development through the reporting of corporate social responsibility information," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(3), pages 388-400, May.
    12. Chitra Sriyani De Silva Lokuwaduge & Kumudini Heenetigala, 2017. "Integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Disclosure for a Sustainable Development: An Australian Study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 438-450, May.
    13. Hans B. Christensen & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2021. "Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1176-1248, September.
    14. James, Hui Liang & Wang, Hongxia & Xie, Yamin, 2018. "Busy directors and firm performance: Does firm location matter?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 1-37.
    15. Alessandra Centinaio, 2024. "How gender diversity in boards affects disclosure? A literature review," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 2352-2382, May.
    16. Swarnodeep Homroy & Aurelie Slechten, 2019. "Do Board Expertise and Networked Boards Affect Environmental Performance?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 269-292, August.
    17. Giovanna Campopiano & Patricia Gabaldón & Daniela Gimenez-Jimenez, 2023. "Women Directors and Corporate Social Performance: An Integrative Review of the Literature and a Future Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(3), pages 717-746, January.
    18. repec:eme:jaar00:jaar-04-2021-0100 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Bendell, Bari L. & Nesij Huvaj, M., 2020. "Does stakeholder engagement through corporate social and environmental behaviors affect innovation?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 685-696.
    20. Giuseppe Nicolò & Giovanni Zampone & Giuseppe Sannino & Serena De Iorio, 2021. "Sustainable corporate governance and non-financial disclosure in Europe: does the gender diversity matter?," Journal of Applied Accounting Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 23(1), pages 227-249, July.
    21. Garcia-Blandon, Josep & Argilés-Bosch, Josep Maria & Ravenda, Diego & Castillo-Merino, David, 2022. "Board gender quotas, female directors and corporate tax aggressiveness: A causal approach," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    22. Kwok Yip Cheung & Chung Yee Lai, 2022. "Board Directorships and Carbon Emissions: Curvilinear Relationships and Moderating Roles of Other Board Characteristics," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, November.
    23. Hamzeh Al Amosh & Saleh F. A. Khatib, 2021. "Corporate governance and voluntary disclosure of sustainability performance: the case of Jordan," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(12), pages 1-22, December.
    24. Vincent Tawiah & Reon Matemane & Babajide Oyewo & Tesfaye T. Lemma, 2024. "Saving the environment with indigenous directors: Evidence from Africa," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 2445-2461, March.
    25. Ayman Issa & Jalal Rajeh Hanaysha, 2023. "Powering profits: how renewable energy boosts financial performance in European non-financial companies," International Journal of Accounting & Information Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 31(4), pages 600-622, June.
    26. Abdelkader Sadou & Fardous Alom & Hayatullah Laluddin, 2017. "Corporate social responsibility disclosures in Malaysia: evidence from large companies," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(1), pages 177-202, March.
    27. Manuel Arellano & Stephen Bond, 1991. "Some Tests of Specification for Panel Data: Monte Carlo Evidence and an Application to Employment Equations," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 58(2), pages 277-297.
    28. Tod Perry & Urs Peyer, 2005. "Board Seat Accumulation by Executives: A Shareholder's Perspective," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 60(4), pages 2083-2123, August.
    29. Mariasole Bannò & Emilia Filippi & Sandro Trento, 2023. "Women in top echelon positions and their effects on sustainability: a review, synthesis and future research agenda," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 27(1), pages 181-251, March.
    30. Hutchinson, Marion & Gul, Ferdinand A., 2004. "Investment opportunity set, corporate governance practices and firm performance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 10(4), pages 595-614, September.
    31. Elyasiani, Elyas & Zhang, Ling, 2015. "Bank holding company performance, risk, and “busy” board of directors," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 239-251.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yakira Fernández-Torres & Clara Gallego-Sosa & Milagros Gutiérrez-Fernández, 2025. "Do women board members contribute to companies’ superior environmental performance? A literature review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 1513-1565, May.
    2. Jonathan Taglialatela & Ivan Miroshnychenko & Roberto Barontini & Francesco Testa, 2024. "Talk or walk? The board of directors and firm environmental strategies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 2890-2910, May.
    3. Umair Bin Yousaf & Muhammad Zubair Tauni & Imran Yousaf & Nancy Lixin Su, 2024. "Board competence and green innovation—Does external governance matter?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3078-3102, May.
    4. Buchetti, Bruno & Arduino, Francesca Romana & Perdichizzi, Salvatore, 2025. "A literature review on corporate governance and ESG research: Emerging trends and future directions," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    5. Alhaj-Ismail, Alaa & Alhababsah, Salem & Azzam, Ala’a, 2025. "Does shared tenure between board of directors and CEO affect R&D investment?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    6. Franco Ernesto Rubino & Paolo Tenuta & Domenico Rocco Cambrea, 2017. "Board characteristics effects on performance in family and non-family business: a multi-theoretical approach," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 21(3), pages 623-658, September.
    7. Dewan Muktadir‐Al‐Mukit & Firoz Haroon Bhaiyat, 2024. "Impact of corporate governance diversity on carbon emission under environmental policy via the mandatory nonfinancial reporting regulation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 1397-1417, February.
    8. Marwa Elnahass & Kamil Omoteso & Aly Salama & Vu Quang Trinh, 2020. "Differential market valuations of board busyness across alternative banking models," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 55(1), pages 201-238, July.
    9. Jihai Lu & Sohail Ahmad Javeed & Rashid Latief & Tao Jiang & Tze San Ong, 2021. "The Moderating Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Association of Internal Corporate Governance and Profitability; Evidence from Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-22, May.
    10. Bradley Benson & Travis Davidson & Hui James & Hongxia Wang, 2022. "Board busyness and corporate payout: are all busy directors the same?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(3), pages 3711-3759, September.
    11. Kim, Keunyoung, 2022. "When are busy boards beneficial?," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 437-454.
    12. Rayed Obaid Hammoud AlObaid & Omar Al Farooque & Ameen Qasem, 2025. "Does disclosure of CSR activities improve corporate value? Moderating role of intellectual capital and COVID-19 pandemic," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, December.
    13. Hoang, Thi Hong Van & Pham, Linh & Nguyen, Thanh Thi Phuong, 2023. "Does country sustainability improve firm ESG reporting transparency? The moderating role of firm industry and CSR engagement," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    14. Bose, Sudipta & Boubaker, Sabri & Daradkeh, Hussein & Shams, Syed, 2025. "From the executive suite to the environment: How does CEO power affect climate change disclosures?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    15. María‐Florencia Amorelli & Isabel‐María García‐Sánchez, 2021. "Trends in the dynamic evolution of board gender diversity and corporate social responsibility," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(2), pages 537-554, March.
    16. Claude Francoeur & Réal Labelle & Souha Balti & Saloua EL Bouzaidi, 2019. "To What Extent Do Gender Diverse Boards Enhance Corporate Social Performance?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 343-357, March.
    17. Haseeb Ur Rahman & Muhammad Zahid & Amin Jan & Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al‐Faryan & Khaled Hussainey, 2024. "Is it the mere female directors or their attributes that matter for the quality of corporate sustainability disclosures?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 661-678, February.
    18. Mei Feng & Weili Ge & Zhejia Ling & Wei Ting Loh, 2024. "Prosocial CEOs, corporate policies, and firm value," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 1854-1903, June.
    19. Kanapathippillai, Sutharson & Gul, Ferdinand & Mihret, Dessalegn & Muttakin, Mohammad Badrul, 2019. "Compensation committees, CEO pay and firm performance," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    20. Sumaia Ayesh Qaderi & Belal Ali Abdulraheem Ghaleb & Abdulwahid Ahmed Hashed & Sitraselvi Chandren & Zaimah Abdullah, 2022. "Board Characteristics and Integrated Reporting Strategy: Does Sustainability Committee Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-24, May.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:32:y:2025:i:3:p:3193-3209. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://doi.org/10.1002/(ISSN)1535-3966 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.