Banking on Women Leaders: A Case for More?

By Ratna Sahay, Martin Cihak, Papa M N'Diaye, Adolfo Barajas, Annette J Kyobe, Srobona Mitra, Yen N Mooi, Reza Yousefi

September 7, 2017

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Ratna Sahay, Martin Cihak, Papa M N'Diaye, Adolfo Barajas, Annette J Kyobe, Srobona Mitra, Yen N Mooi, and Reza Yousefi. Banking on Women Leaders: A Case for More?, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2017) accessed September 20, 2024

Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary

Using a new dataset, we measure the large gap between the representation of men and women in leadership positions in banks and bank supervision agencies worldwide. Women occupied less than 2 percent of bank CEOs positions, and less than 20 percent of the board seats in more than 80 percent of the observations across banks over time. Contrary to common perceptions, many low- and middle-income countries have a higher share of women in bank boards and banking supervision agency boards compared to advanced economies. Econometric analysis suggests that, controlling for relevant bank and country-specific factors, the presence of women as well as a higher share of women on bank boards is associated with greater bank stability, as represented by higher z-scores and lower nonperforming loan ratios. We also examine the share of women on boards of banking supervision agencies by compiling a new dataset. We find that it is associated with greater bank stability. Further research is needed to identify specific mechanisms through which these stability benefits are achieved, and to understand the conditions that have facilitated entry of women into leadership roles in banks and supervision agencies.

Subject: Bank soundness, Bank supervision, Banking, Commercial banks, Financial institutions, Financial regulation and supervision, Financial sector policy and analysis, Gender, Nonperforming loans, Women

Keywords: Bank, Bank assets, Bank board, Bank size, Bank soundness, Bank stability, Bank stability measure, Bank stability outcome, Bank supervision, Bank type, Bank type Fe, Banking, Board of directors, Board seat, Commercial banks, Gender, Global, Nonperforming loans, Share, Share of woman, Women, WP

Publication Details

Pages:

38
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 2017/199
Stock No:

WPIEA2017199
ISBN:

9781484318164
ISSN:

1018-5941

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