Does Board Gender Diversity Drive Green Innovation in Chinese Family Firms? Evidence from Listed Companies

Bibliographic Data

ID22006957
AuthorsChia‐Hsien Tang (0000-0001-9378-5836, Guangxi Normal University for Nationalities), Chia-Hsien Tang (Guangxi Normal University for Nationalities), Enjing Xu (Guangxi Normal University for Nationalities, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume16
Issue1
Publication date2026-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSAGE Open (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2158-2440 • E-ISSN: 2158-2440
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/21582440251411405
OpenAlexW7118264687
LanguageEN
References cited17

This study examines whether board gender diversity encourages green innovation in Chinese family firms, using 1,200 firm-year observations from 2015 to 2024. Based on resource dependence, agency, and institutional theories, the analysis considers both internal governance features and regional environments. Across fixed-effects, instrumental-variable, and system GMM models, the results show that board gender diversity has a clear and significant positive effect on green innovation. Family ownership concentration weakens this effect, while higher regional institutional quality strengthens it. ESG performance partly explains the relationship, suggesting that gender-diverse boards improve sustainability practices that help firms pursue green innovation. These findings add to existing research by showing how gender diversity works within family-owned firms and under different regional conditions. The study also provides practical suggestions for improving family firm governance and policy guidance for promoting board diversity and strengthening local regulatory systems. JEL Classification Code: G34, M14, Q55, J16

Chinese family · Corporate governance · Gender diversity · On board · Sustainability · Family Business Performance and Succession · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Work-Family Balance Challenges

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