IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i17p11058-d906877.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Effect of the Board’s Educational and Gender Diversity on the Firms’ Performance: Evidence from Non-Financial Firms in Developing Country

Author

Listed:
  • Ali Shariff Kabara

    (Department of Accounting, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Federal University Birnin-Kebbi, Kalgo 862104, Kebbi, Nigeria)

  • Saleh F. A. Khatib

    (Brunel Business School, College of Business Arts and Social Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
    Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia)

  • Ayman Hassan Bazhair

    (Department of Economic and Finance, Faculty of Business Administration College, Taif University, Taif 21974, Saudi Arabia)

  • Hamid Ghazi H Sulimany

    (Accounting Department, Faculty of Business Administration College, Taif University, Taif 21974, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Prior studies have analyzed board diversity (mostly in developed nations) using financial firms to measure demographic or cognitive characteristics in relation to firm performance. However, the current study attempted to fill the literature gap by evaluating both demographic and cognitive mechanisms in developing economies using non-financial firms in Nigeria. This study examined how board diversity in terms of the gender and educational level of directors affects the performance of Nigerian stock exchange companies. The study utilized a sample of 67 listed companies from the Nigerian stock exchange over eight years, from 2012 to 2019. A quantitative method using a deductive approach was adopted in conducting fixed effect and generalized method of moments (GMM) estimations for robust findings. The findings support the existence of a significant positive influence of both education and gender diversity on the companies’ performance. These results are consistent with agency and resource dependence theoretical expectations. The outcomes add to the current debates on those types of regulatory setters calling for corporate board diversification. The findings would greatly benefit management in the directors’ selection process as they revealed the importance of both education and gender diversity for better performance and enhancing market value. Thus, they contribute to the literature on the state of board diversity in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Ali Shariff Kabara & Saleh F. A. Khatib & Ayman Hassan Bazhair & Hamid Ghazi H Sulimany, 2022. "The Effect of the Board’s Educational and Gender Diversity on the Firms’ Performance: Evidence from Non-Financial Firms in Developing Country," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:11058-:d:906877
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/17/11058/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/17/11058/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ernest Gyapong & Reza M. Monem & Fang Hu, 2016. "Do Women and Ethnic Minority Directors Influence Firm Value? Evidence from Post-Apartheid South Africa," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(3-4), pages 370-413, March.
    2. Adams, Renée B. & Ferreira, Daniel, 2009. "Women in the boardroom and their impact on governance and performance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(2), pages 291-309, November.
    3. Rohail Hassan & Maran Marimuthu, 2016. "Corporate Governance, Board Diversity, and Firm Value: Examining Large Companies Using Panel Data Approach," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 36(3), pages 1737-1750.
    4. Tukur Garba & Bilkisu Aliyu Abubakar, 2014. "Corporate Board Diversity and Financial Performance of Insurance Companies in Nigeria: An Application of Panel Data Approach," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 4(2), pages 257-277.
    5. David Roodman, 2009. "How to do xtabond2: An introduction to difference and system GMM in Stata," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 9(1), pages 86-136, March.
    6. Stefan Beiner & Wolfgang Drobetz & Markus M. Schmid & Heinz Zimmermann, 2006. "An Integrated Framework of Corporate Governance and Firm Valuation," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 12(2), pages 249-283, March.
    7. Saleh F. A. Khatib & Dewi Fariha Abdullah & Ahmed A. Elamer & Raed Abueid, 2021. "Nudging toward diversity in the boardroom: A systematic literature review of board diversity of financial institutions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 985-1002, February.
    8. Demsetz, Harold & Villalonga, Belen, 2001. "Ownership structure and corporate performance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 209-233, September.
    9. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    10. Stavros E. Arvanitis & Evangelos G. Varouchas & George M. Agiomirgianakis, 2022. "Does Board Gender Diversity Really Improve Firm Performance? Evidence from Greek Listed Firms," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-19, July.
    11. Shu Fen Chuah & Chee-Wooi Hooy, 2018. "The impact of board ethnic diversity on firm performance: evidence from public listed firms in Malaysia," International Journal of Monetary Economics and Finance, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 11(3), pages 260-270.
    12. Austin UJUNWA & Chinwe OKOYEUZU & Ifeoma NWAKOBY, 2012. "Corporate Board Diversity and Firm Performance: Evidence from Nigeria," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 13(4), pages 605-620, October.
    13. Aruoriwo Marian Chijoke-Mgbame & Agyenim Boateng & Chijoke Oscar Mgbame, 2020. "Board gender diversity, audit committee and financial performance: evidence from Nigeria," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(3), pages 262-286, July.
    14. Nadia Ben Farhat Toumi & Ramzi Benkraiem & Amal Hamrouni, 2016. "Board director disciplinary and cognitive influence on corporate value creation," Post-Print hal-01363698, HAL.
    15. Nirosha Hewa Wellalage & Stuart Locke, 2013. "Corporate governance, board diversity and firm financial performance: new evidence from Sri Lanka," International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 8(2), pages 116-136.
    16. Hassan, Rohail & Marimuthu, Maran, 2018. "Contextualizing comprehensive board diversity and firm financial performance: Integrating market, management and shareholder’s perspective," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 24(5), pages 634-678, September.
    17. R.M. Haniffa & T. E. Cooke, 2002. "Culture, Corporate Governance and Disclosure in Malaysian Corporations," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 38(3), pages 317-349, October.
    18. Collins Ntim & Teerooven Soobaroyen, 2013. "Black Economic Empowerment Disclosures by South African Listed Corporations: The Influence of Ownership and Board Characteristics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 116(1), pages 121-138, August.
    19. David Roodman, 2009. "A Note on the Theme of Too Many Instruments," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 71(1), pages 135-158, February.
    20. Tukur Garba PhD & Bilkisu Aliyu Abubakar, 2014. "Corporate Board Diversity and Financial Performance of Insurance Companies in Nigeria: An Application of Panel Data Approach," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 4(2), pages 257-277, February.
    21. Romano, Giulia & Guerrini, Andrea, 2014. "The effects of ownership, board size and board composition on the performance of Italian water utilities," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 18-28.
    22. Nadia Toumi & Ramzi Benkraiem & Amal Hamrouni, 2016. "Board director disciplinary and cognitive influence on corporate value creation," Post-Print hal-01363698, HAL.
    23. Ahmed A. Sarhan & Collins G. Ntim & Basil Al‐Najjar, 2019. "Board diversity, corporate governance, corporate performance, and executive pay," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(2), pages 761-786, April.
    24. Muhammad Azeem Naz & Rizwan Ali & Ramiz Ur Rehman & Collins G. Ntim, 2022. "Corporate governance, working capital management, and firm performance: Some new insights from agency theory," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(5), pages 1448-1461, July.
    25. Niclas L. Erhardt & James D. Werbel & Charles B. Shrader, 2003. "Board of Director Diversity and Firm Financial Performance," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(2), pages 102-111, April.
    26. Low, Daniel C.M. & Roberts, Helen & Whiting, Rosalind H., 2015. "Board gender diversity and firm performance: Empirical evidence from Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(PA), pages 381-401.
    27. Claude Francoeur & Réal Labelle & Bernard Sinclair-Desgagné, 2008. "Gender Diversity in Corporate Governance and Top Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 81(1), pages 83-95, August.
    28. Saha Rupjyoti & Kabra Kailash Chandra, 2019. "Does corporate governance influence firm performance? Evidence from India," Economics and Business Review, Sciendo, vol. 5(4), pages 70-89, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. María Consuelo Pucheta-Martínez & Inmaculada Bel-Oms & Gustau Olcina-Sempere, 2018. "Female Institutional Directors on Boards and Firm Value," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(2), pages 343-363, October.
    2. Collins Ntim, 2015. "Board diversity and organizational valuation: unravelling the effects of ethnicity and gender," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 19(1), pages 167-195, February.
    3. Nguyen, Tuan & Locke, Stuart & Reddy, Krishna, 2014. "A dynamic estimation of governance structures and financial performance for Singaporean companies," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 1-11.
    4. Nguyen, Thi Hong Hanh & Ntim, Collins G. & Malagila, John K., 2020. "Women on corporate boards and corporate financial and non-financial performance: A systematic literature review and future research agenda," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    5. Helena Isidro & Márcia Sobral, 2015. "The Effects of Women on Corporate Boards on Firm Value, Financial Performance, and Ethical and Social Compliance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 1-19, November.
    6. Naeem Tabassum & Satwinder Singh, 2020. "Corporate Governance and Organisational Performance," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-030-48527-6, February.
    7. Asad, Muhammad & Akbar, Saeed & Li, Jing & Shah, Syed Zulfiqar Ali, 2023. "Board diversity and corporate propensity to R&D spending," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    8. Luiz Eduardo Gaio & Angela Christina Lucas & Johan Hendrik Poker Junior & Marcio Marcelo Belli, 2024. "Gender diversity in management and corporate financial performance: A systematic literature review," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4047-4067, September.
    9. Shubham Singhania & Jagvinder Singh & Deepti Aggrawal, 2023. "Gender diversity on board and corporate sustainability: a quantitative review based on bibliometric mapping," International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, Springer;The Society for Reliability, Engineering Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM),India, and Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, vol. 14(1), pages 267-286, February.
    10. Douglas A. Adu & Naheed N. Roni, 2024. "Bank climate change initiatives, ownership structures, and corporate governance mechanisms: Evidence from emerging economies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3039-3077, May.
    11. Ahmadi, Ali & Nakaa, Nejia & Bouri, Abdelfettah, 2018. "Chief Executive Officer attributes, board structures, gender diversity and firm performance among French CAC 40 listed firms," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 218-226.
    12. P. López-Delgado & J. Diéguez-Soto, 2020. "Indebtedness in family-managed firms: the moderating role of female directors on the board," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 727-762, August.
    13. Mustafa K. Yilmaz & Umit Hacioglu & Ekrem Tatoglu & Mine Aksoy & Selman Duran, 2023. "Measuring the impact of board gender and cultural diversity on corporate governance and social performance: evidence from emerging markets," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(2), pages 2106503-210, December.
    14. Ahmad Yuosef Alodat & Zalailah Salleh & Haitham Nobanee & Hafiza Aishah Hashim, 2023. "Board gender diversity and firm performance: The mediating role of sustainability disclosure," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(4), pages 2053-2065, July.
    15. Nguyen, Tuan & Locke, Stuart & Reddy, Krishna, 2015. "Does boardroom gender diversity matter? Evidence from a transitional economy," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 184-202.
    16. Alharbi, Rana & Elnahass, Marwa & McLaren, Josie, 2022. "Women directors and market valuation: What are the “Wonder Woman” attributes in banking?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    17. Nebyu Adamu Abebe & Navkiranjit Kaur Dhaliwal, 2024. "An empirical investigation of corporate governance attributes and firm performance: evidence from the ethiopian insurance industry," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 4(10), pages 1-25, October.
    18. Rey Dang & Anne Françoise Bender & Marie José Scotto, 2014. "Women on French Corporate Board of Directors: How Do They Differ from their Male Counterparts?," Working Papers 2014-54, Department of Research, Ipag Business School.
    19. Tutun Mukherjee & Som Sankar Sen, 2022. "Impact of CEO attributes on corporate reputation, financial performance, and corporate sustainable growth: evidence from India," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-50, December.
    20. Thi-Thanh Phan & Hai-Chin Yu, 2022. "Innovation, institutional ownerships and board diversity," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 59(4), pages 1647-1693, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:11058-:d:906877. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.