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Why Do Companies Choose Female CEOs?

Author

Listed:
  • Shuo Han

    (Business School, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China)

  • Weijun Cui

    (Business School, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
    China Institute of Manufacturing Development, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China)

  • Jin Chen

    (School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100085, China
    Research Center for Technological Innovation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100085, China)

  • Yu Fu

    (Business School, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China)

Abstract

For the career development of chief executive officers (CEOs), the existing literature lacks research from the perspectives of gender and the environment. Starting with the perspective of the environment, and through the adoption of the World Bank Survey Data on Chinese Enterprises and China’s Comprehensive Social Survey (CGSS), this paper addresses the question: “Why do companies choose female CEOs?” The analysis examines 15 aspects, including enterprise scale, age, industry, owner, product market, market environment, city level, etc. The research findings are as follows. (1) The corporate environment has an impact on CEO gender, and there are differences in its nature and the degree of impact. Enterprise size, state-owned shareholding, radiation effect, market environment, and gender culture have a significant negative impact on female CEOs, while product features, industry characteristics, and female owners have a significantly positive impact on female CEOs. (2) In terms of the impact mechanism, the impact of the meso-environment on female CEOs is significantly adjusted by the macro-environment. This paper extends the existing theory from the perspectives of gender and the environment. Relevant policy recommendations are proposed to provide a theoretical basis for the government to promote women’s employment policies and provide effective suggestions for promoting women’s career development.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuo Han & Weijun Cui & Jin Chen & Yu Fu, 2019. "Why Do Companies Choose Female CEOs?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-36, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:15:p:4070-:d:252390
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yi Feng & Ya Liu, 2023. "Industry Life Cycle, CEO Functional Background and Corporate Sustainable Development: Evidence from Listed Companies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-31, January.
    2. Luisa Esteban-Salvador & Ana F. Gargallo-Castel, 2019. "Female Executives in the Service Sector: The Case of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-18, October.

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