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Firm size and board diversity

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Listed:
  • Martin Arnegger
  • Christian Hofmann
  • Kerstin Pull
  • Karin Vetter

Abstract

This study seeks to understand the relation between firm size and supervisory board composition. Specifically, we ask if and how firm size influences occupational and international background diversity in supervisory boards. Relying on resource dependence theory and theories of organizational behavior, we hypothesize that board diversity with respect to directors’ occupational background will increase with firm size, while the relation between firm size and board diversity with respect to directors’ international background will be concave. Using archival data for supervisory board members of 151 German firms listed in the German stock exchange indices DAX, MDAX, SDAX and TecDAX for the business year 2005, we find empirical support for our hypotheses: Both, occupational and international background diversity increase with increasing firm size, but international background diversity does so at decreasing rates. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Arnegger & Christian Hofmann & Kerstin Pull & Karin Vetter, 2014. "Firm size and board diversity," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 18(4), pages 1109-1135, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:18:y:2014:i:4:p:1109-1135
    DOI: 10.1007/s10997-013-9273-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Walther, Axel & Morner, Michèle & Calabrò, Andrea, 2017. "The role of behaviorally integrated nominating committees in non-executive director selection processes," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 351-361.
    2. YAGLI, Ibrahim & ŞİMŞEK, Burcu, 2017. "Meta-Analytic Review Of The Relation Between Board Globalization And Firm Performance," Studii Financiare (Financial Studies), Centre of Financial and Monetary Research "Victor Slavescu", vol. 21(2), pages 31-55.
    3. Bedelev, Bogdan, 2023. "The more, the better? Diversification Trends in Executive and Supervisory Boards in Germany and their Potential Effects," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 8(3), pages 569-590.
    4. Felix Kwabena Danso & Michael Adusei & Beatrice Sarpong-Danquah & Kwadwo Boateng Prempeh, 2024. "Board expertise diversity and firm performance in sub-Saharan Africa: do firm age and size matter?," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-20, December.
    5. Mauro Romano & Alessandro Cirillo & Christian Favino & Antonio Netti, 2020. "ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Performance and Board Gender Diversity: The Moderating Role of CEO Duality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-16, November.
    6. Martin Arnegger & Christian Hofmann, 2014. "Überprüfung des Zusammenhangs von Eigenschaften, Aufgaben und Vergütung von Aufsichtsräten deutscher Unternehmen," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 66(7), pages 518-566, November.
    7. Jimi Siekkinen, 2017. "Board characteristics and the value relevance of fair values," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 21(2), pages 435-471, June.
    8. Khwaja Naveed & Cosmina L. Voinea & Zahid Ali & Fawad Rauf & Cosmin Fratostiteanu, 2021. "Board Gender Diversity and Corporate Social Performance in Different Industry Groups: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-15, March.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate governance; Board composition; Occupational background diversity; International background diversity; M2; M12; M51;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M2 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • M51 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Firm Employment Decisions; Promotions

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