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Gender pay gap in American CFOs: Theory and evidence

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  • Francis, Bill B.
  • Hasan, Iftekhar
  • Hovakimian, Gayane
  • Sharma, Zenu

Abstract

Studies document persistent unexplained gender-based wage gap in labor markets. At the executive level, where skill and education are similar, career interruptions and differences in risk preferences primarily explain the extant gender-based pay gap. This study focuses on CFO compensation contracts of Execucomp firms (1992–2020) and finds no gender-based pay gap. This paper offers several explanations for this phenomenon, such as novel evidence on the risk preferences of females with financial expertise and changes in the social and regulatory climate.

Suggested Citation

  • Francis, Bill B. & Hasan, Iftekhar & Hovakimian, Gayane & Sharma, Zenu, 2023. "Gender pay gap in American CFOs: Theory and evidence," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:80:y:2023:i:c:s0929119923000536
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2023.102404
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    1. Huang, Xiaohong & Kabir, Rezaul & Thijssen, Maximiliaan Willem Pierre, 2024. "Powerful female CEOs and the capital structure of firms," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate policies; Executive compensation; Gender; CFO;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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