The Influence of Board Gender Diversity on the Sustainable Development Goals Reporting: Evidence from Portuguese Companies

• Autor(a) principal: Monteiro, Sónia
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Lemos, Kátia, Ribeiro, Verónica
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/11110/2632
• topic: Women on boards; Board gender diversity; Sustainable development goals; Reporting; Agenda 2030

Abstract: Aim: The aim of this paper is to analyze the influence of female presence on boards on the level of disclosure about the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Methodology and Sample: This study used a content analysis of the sustainability/integrated reports published by a sample of the largest Portuguese listed companies. A set of panel data regression analyses on the SDGs disclosure index from 2016 until 2020 was run. Research Findings: It was expected that there would be higher levels of SDGs-related disclosures in companies with female presence on boards. However, the results do not reveal any significant association with the dependent variable (SDG_IND). Contrary to our expectation, the presence of female on boards does not influence the disclosure about the SDGs in the largest listed companies. Theoretical/Academic Implications: Little research has addressed the influence of females on SDGs reporting (Rosati & Faria, 2019b, Pizzi et al., 2021). To the best of our knowledge, this study provides a first insight at the influence of the board gender diversity on SDGs reporting in the Portuguese context. Practitioner/Policy Implications: This study helps to highlight the importance of women on boards' role by increasing awareness about UN 2030 Agenda and ensuring the transparency of SDGs-related disclosure. Thus, our findings could have implications for policy formulation, to encourage board gender diversity and its effects on SDGs reporting quality.