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Gender diversity in bank boardrooms and green lending: evidence from euro area credit register data

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  • Gambacorta, Leonardo
  • Pancotto, Livia
  • Reghezza, Alessio
  • Spaggiari, Martina

Abstract

Do female directors on banks’ boards influence lending decisions toward less polluting firms? By using granular credit register data matched with information on firm-level greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensities, we isolate credit supply shifts and find that banks with more gender-diverse boards provide less credit to browner companies. This evidence is robust when we differentiate among types of GHG emissions and control for endogeneity concerns. In addition, we also show that female director-specific characteristics matter for lending behavior to polluting firms as better-educated directors grant lower credit volumes to more polluting firms. Finally, we document that the “greening” effect of the female members in banks’ boardrooms is stronger in countries with more female climate-oriented politicians. JEL Classification: G01, G21, G30, Q50

Suggested Citation

  • Gambacorta, Leonardo & Pancotto, Livia & Reghezza, Alessio & Spaggiari, Martina, 2022. "Gender diversity in bank boardrooms and green lending: evidence from euro area credit register data," Working Paper Series 2741, European Central Bank.
  • Handle: RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20222741
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    1. Miquel-Flores, Ixart & Reghezza, Alessio & Buchetti, Bruno & Perdichizzi, Salvatore, 2024. "Greening the economy: how public-guaranteed loans influence firm-level resource allocation," Working Paper Series 2916, European Central Bank.
    2. LUPU Iulia & CRISTE Adina, 2023. "Climate Change In The Discourse Of Central Banks. Influence On Financial Stability At The European Level," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 18(2), pages 235-246, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    bank lending; board diversity; credit registry; gender; GHG emissions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General

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