Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/231652 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Citation: 
[Journal:] DIW Weekly Report [ISSN:] 2568-7697 [Volume:] 11 [Issue:] 3/4 [Publisher:] Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW) [Place:] Berlin [Year:] 2021 [Pages:] 32-38
Publisher: 
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), Berlin
Abstract: 
Over the past years, the proportion of women on the supervisory boards of major companies in Germany has increased. As this second report in the DIW Women Executives Barometer 2021 shows, this has a meaningful, positive impact on the supervisory boards of many companies, and affects interactions between members, discussions, and decision-making. These findings are based on qualitative interviews with 60 supervisory board members who serve on the boards of a total of 75 listed companies in Germany. These directors emphasize changes in the general atmosphere, and discussions are described as more comprehensive and multi-faceted. Women also appear to be more likely to question the executive board's proposals and decisions and to request additional information more often. Thus, gender diversity on supervisory boards can contribute to a board's ability to more effectively monitor executive boards. The interviews do not confirm the idea that women on supervisory boards act in an especially risk averse, altruistic, or ethical manner. Considering the frequency of top executives committing fraud-such as in the current Wirecard scandal-improvement to supervisory boards' discussions and decision-making is very important. In the same vein, it can be hoped that the minimum requirement for the participation of women on executive boards, a bill which was recently passed by the German Cabinet, will similarly have effects beyond providing momentum for greater gender equality.
Subjects: 
corporate boards
board composition
boards of directors
board diversity
Europe
women directors
gender equality
gender quota
Germany
management
private companies
public companies
supervisory boards
executive boards
CEOs
women
JEL: 
D22
J16
J59
J78
L21
L32
M14
M51
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Article

Files in This Item:
File
Size
119.08 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.