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Effects of board gender diversity and sustainability committees on environmental performance: a quantile regression approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2022

Hussain Muhammad Open the ORCID record for Hussain Muhammad [Opens in a new window]  and
Stefania Migliori Open the ORCID record for Stefania Migliori [Opens in a new window]
Hussain Muhammad*
Affiliation:
Department of Management and Business Administration, “G. d'Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Viale Pindaro, n. 42, 65127 Pescara, Italy
Stefania Migliori
Affiliation:
Department of Management and Business Administration, “G. d'Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Viale Pindaro, n. 42, 65127 Pescara, Italy
*
Author for correspondence: Hussain Muhammad, E-mail: hussain.muhammad@unich.it
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Abstract

This study examines the effect of board gender diversity (BGD) and sustainability committees on environmental performance. Using a quantile regression approach and a sample of publicly listed firms in Italy, we find that BGD and sustainability committees have different effects on firms' environmental performance over different points of conditional distribution. This shows that BGD and sustainability committees have greater quantitative impact in firms performing better environmentally and are positively related to environmental performance. We further discover that large Italian firms that reach a critical mass of three female directors maintain a stronger attitude towards environmental sustainability. Overall, the results confirm that BGD and sustainability committees enhance board effectiveness and help promote sustainable environmental initiatives. This study provides empirical evidence from a context that has not yet been investigated. It further augments the literature by employing a quantile regression approach, mostly unexamined by previous studies.

Keywords

Board gender diversitycritical mass of female directorsenvironmental performancequantile regression analysissustainability committees
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 29 , Issue 6 , November 2023 , pp. 1051 - 1076
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2022

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