IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i15p6394-d1443196.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

From Equality to Excellence: Exploring the Relationship between Gender Equality HR Policies and R&D Intensity

Author

Listed:
  • Sung-Tae Lee

    (School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea)

  • Sun-Moon Jung

    (Dongguk Business School, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

In an era where innovation is the key to staying competitive, understanding the role of gender diversity in fostering corporate creativity has never been more crucial. This study examined the relationship between gender equality human resource (HR) policies and a firm’s innovation focus, measured by research and development (R&D) intensity and intangible asset intensity. Utilizing a comprehensive survey dataset focused on female workers in Korean listed firms for the period 2020–2022, we found no clear evidence of a positive association between gender equality HR policies such as equal employment opportunities and gender pay equity and both R&D intensity and intangible asset intensity. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that the positive influence of these policies on R&D (intangible) intensity becomes more apparent when the proportion of female employees among the total R&D HR increases. These findings emphasize the critical role that gender-inclusive HR policies play in fostering a culture of innovation within organizations and highlight the importance of considering workforce composition while shaping innovation outcomes. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on the intersection of gender equality, HR practices, and corporate innovation strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Sung-Tae Lee & Sun-Moon Jung, 2024. "From Equality to Excellence: Exploring the Relationship between Gender Equality HR Policies and R&D Intensity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:15:p:6394-:d:1443196
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/15/6394/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/15/6394/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Coles, Jeffrey L. & Daniel, Naveen D. & Naveen, Lalitha, 2006. "Managerial incentives and risk-taking," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(2), pages 431-468, February.
    2. Ajay Palvia & Emilia Vähämaa & Sami Vähämaa, 2015. "Are Female CEOs and Chairwomen More Conservative and Risk Averse? Evidence from the Banking Industry During the Financial Crisis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 131(3), pages 577-594, October.
    3. Bernile, Gennaro & Bhagwat, Vineet & Yonker, Scott, 2018. "Board diversity, firm risk, and corporate policies," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(3), pages 588-612.
    4. Birger Wernerfelt, 1984. "A resource‐based view of the firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(2), pages 171-180, April.
    5. David Neumark & Harry Holzer, 2000. "Assessing Affirmative Action," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 38(3), pages 483-568, September.
    6. Alex Coad & Rekha Rao, 2010. "Firm growth and R&D expenditure," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(2), pages 127-145.
    7. Cohen, Wesley M & Klepper, Steven, 1992. "The Anatomy of Industry R&D Intensity Distributions," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 82(4), pages 773-799, September.
    8. Chiung-Hui Huang & Ing-Chung Huang, 2022. "Women’s Gender Discrimination Difference in Workplace," International Journal of Human Resource Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 12(2), pages 101111-1011, December.
    9. 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.
    10. David A. Carter & Betty J. Simkins & W. Gary Simpson, 2003. "Corporate Governance, Board Diversity, and Firm Value," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 38(1), pages 33-53, February.
    11. Lee Fleming, 2001. "Recombinant Uncertainty in Technological Search," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 47(1), pages 117-132, January.
    12. Laurel A. Franzen & Kimberly J. Rodgers & Timothy T. Simin, 2007. "Measuring Distress Risk: The Effect of R&D Intensity," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 62(6), pages 2931-2967, 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. Jarkko Peltomäki & Jukka Sihvonen & Steve Swidler & Sami Vähämaa, 2021. "Age, gender, and risk‐taking: Evidence from the S&P 1500 executives and market‐based measures of firm risk," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(9-10), pages 1988-2014, October.
    2. Angelo A. Unite & Michael J. Sullivan & Ailyn A. Shi, 2019. "Board Diversity and Performance of Philippine Firms: Do Women Matter?," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 25(1), pages 65-78, February.
    3. Leonardo Gambacorta & Alessio Reghezza & Martina Spaggiari & Livia Pancotto, 2022. "Gender diversity in bank boardrooms and green lending: evidence from euro area credit register data," BIS Working Papers 1044, Bank for International Settlements.
    4. Lee, Jangwook & Chung, Jiyoon, 2022. "Women in top management teams and their impact on innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    5. Lettl, Christopher & Rost, Katja & von Wartburg, Iwan, 2009. "Why are some independent inventors 'heroes' and others 'hobbyists'? The moderating role of technological diversity and specialization," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 243-254, March.
    6. Huang, Peng & Lu, Yue & Wu, Ji, 2023. "Does board diversity in industry-experience boost firm value? The role of corporate innovation," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    7. García Lara, Juan Manuel & García Osma, Beatriz & Mora, Araceli & Scapin, Mariano, 2017. "The monitoring role of female directors over accounting quality," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 651-668.
    8. 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).
    9. Waqas Bin Khidmat & Muhammad Ayub Khan & Hashmat Ullah, 2020. "The Effect of Board Diversity on Firm Performance: Evidence from Chinese L isted Companies," Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, , vol. 13(1), pages 9-33, June.
    10. Mariana Bunea & Liliana Ionescu Feleaga & Bogdan Stefan Ionescu, 2023. "The CEO characteristics and Romanian banks performance," E&M Economics and Management, Technical University of Liberec, Faculty of Economics, vol. 26(4), pages 99-118, December.
    11. Poletti-Hughes, Jannine & Briano-Turrent, Guadalupe C., 2019. "Gender diversity on the board of directors and corporate risk: A behavioural agency theory perspective," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 80-90.
    12. Rania Béji & Ouidad Yousfi & Abdelwahed Omri, 2020. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance: A cognitive approach," Post-Print hal-03144756, HAL.
    13. Giovanni Bronzetti & Maurizio Rija & Graziella Sicoli & Dominga Anna Ippolito, 2021. "Diversit? di genere e sistema sanitario: un?analisi su un campione di aziende sanitarie italiane," MECOSAN, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(120), pages 63-81.
    14. Canan C. Mutlu & Sunay Mutlu & Steve Sauerwald, 2021. "CEO outside directorships and managerial efficiency: The role of host board capital," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 45-66, January.
    15. Nazliben, Kamil Korhan & Renneboog, Luc & Uduwalage, Emil, 2022. "Social Diversity on Corporate Boards in a Country Torn by Civil War," Discussion Paper 2022-001, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    16. Ji, Jiao & Peng, Hongfeng & Sun, Hanwen & Xu, Haofeng, 2021. "Board tenure diversity, culture and firm risk: Cross-country evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    17. 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.
    18. I-Ju Chen & Wei Chih Lin & Huai-Chun Lo & Sheng-Syan Chen, 2023. "Board diversity and corporate innovation," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 61(1), pages 63-123, July.
    19. Liu, Chelsea, 2021. "CEO gender and employee relations: Evidence from labor lawsuits," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    20. Chwee Ming Tee & Puspavathy Rassiah, 2020. "Ethnic board diversity, earnings quality and institutional investors: evidence from Malaysian corporate boards," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(4), pages 4257-4290, December.

    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:16:y:2024:i:15:p:6394-:d:1443196. 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.