The Impact of Board Gender Diversity on Sustainability Reporting and External Assurance: Evidence from Lower-Middle-Income Countries in Asia and Africa

Abstract

Based on the notion that a diverse board will pay greater attention to social responsibility and stakeholder concerns, this article examines the effect of board gender diversity on the adoption of new sustainability reporting practices (i.e., SDG reporting) and on the use of external assurance. After controlling for corporate governance as well as companies’ performances, sustainability commitment, industries, and regions, we find that gender-diverse boards are positively associated with sustainability reporting and the involvement of an external assurance provider. This article consolidates and provides information on the relationship between women participation on corporate boards and sustainability reporting activities of 366 large Asian and African companies. Additionally, it addresses the understudied question of how the gender diversity of board resources affects the adoption of the external assurance of sustainability reporting and the types of assurance providers.

Keywords:

• sustainability reporting
• board gender diversity
• female directors
• external assurance

JEL Classification Codes:

• L2
• M14
• P48
• Q01

Notes

1 According to the World Bank classification, lower-middle- income countries are those with a gross national income (GNI) per capita between $996 and $3,895, calculated using the World Bank Atlas method.

2 Among the major providers of sustainability reporting guidance, the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Standards are the most adopted frameworks for voluntary reporting worldwide (Brown, De Jong, and Levy 2009).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alicia Girón

Alicia Girón is at the University Program of Studies on Asia and Africa (PUEAA), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico. Amirreza Kazemikhasragh is a Postdoctoral Fellow, University Program of Studies on Asia and Africa (PUEAA), National Autonomous University of Mexico. Antonella Francesca Cicchiello and Stefano Monferrá are at the Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy.

Amirreza Kazemikhasragh

Alicia Girón is at the University Program of Studies on Asia and Africa (PUEAA), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico. Amirreza Kazemikhasragh is a Postdoctoral Fellow, University Program of Studies on Asia and Africa (PUEAA), National Autonomous University of Mexico. Antonella Francesca Cicchiello and Stefano Monferrá are at the Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy.

Antonella F. Cicchiello

Alicia Girón is at the University Program of Studies on Asia and Africa (PUEAA), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico. Amirreza Kazemikhasragh is a Postdoctoral Fellow, University Program of Studies on Asia and Africa (PUEAA), National Autonomous University of Mexico. Antonella Francesca Cicchiello and Stefano Monferrá are at the Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy.

Stefano Monferrá

Alicia Girón is at the University Program of Studies on Asia and Africa (PUEAA), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico. Amirreza Kazemikhasragh is a Postdoctoral Fellow, University Program of Studies on Asia and Africa (PUEAA), National Autonomous University of Mexico. Antonella Francesca Cicchiello and Stefano Monferrá are at the Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy.