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As California goes, so goes the nation? Board gender quotas and the legislation of non-economic values

Author

Listed:
  • Felix von Meyerinck
  • Alexandra Niessen-Ruenzi
  • Markus Schmid
  • Steven Davidoff Solomon

Abstract

In 2018, California became the first U.S. state to introduce a mandatory board gender quota for all firms headquartered in the state. We document negative announcement returns to the adoption of the quota for Californian firms, but also large negative spillover effects on a matched group of non-Californian firms, particularly those located in states that followed California’s legislative lead in the past by raising minimum wages or legalizing cannabis. Frictions on the director labor market only explain a small fraction of value losses of Californian firms. They do not explain the negative spillover effects on firms in other states. We propose shareholders’ fear of further legislation of non-economic values as a new explanation for the negative announcement returns to gender quotas. In line with this view, we find that firms with higher policy sensitivity show the strongest reaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Felix von Meyerinck & Alexandra Niessen-Ruenzi & Markus Schmid & Steven Davidoff Solomon, 2019. "As California goes, so goes the nation? Board gender quotas and the legislation of non-economic values," Working Papers on Finance 1904, University of St. Gallen, School of Finance, revised Dec 2019.
    • Handle: RePEc:usg:sfwpfi:2019:04
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Marina Gertsberg & Johanna Mollerstrom & Michaela Pagel, 2021. "Gender Quotas and Support for Women in Board Elections," NBER Working Papers 28463, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Yongqiang Chu & Xinming Li & Daxuan Zhao, 2023. "Gender Diversity: From Wall Street to Main Street," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 188(1), pages 151-168, November.
    3. Dasgupta, Sudipto & Boyallian, Patricia & Homroy, Swarnodeep, 2020. "Gender Diversity Goals, Supply Constraints, and the Market for Seasoned Female Directors: The U.S. Evidence," CEPR Discussion Papers 15257, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Board Gender Quota; Firm Value; Director Labor Market;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J78 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Public Policy (including comparable worth)
    • K38 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Human Rights Law; Gender Law; Animal Rights Law

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