What about corporate board diversity?

The chapter examines corporate board diversity, especially gender diversity, through major governance and organizational theories. It distinguishes task-related (e.g., expertise, industry background) from relation-related (e.g., gender, age, nationality) diversity and reviews evidence on how different dimensions affect monitoring, strategy, innovation, CSR, and firm performance, highlighting both benefits and coordination costs. Particular attention is given to gender diversity initiatives, including quota-based and market-driven approaches, and to how their effects vary across countries and institutional environments. The chapter concludes by calling for more nuanced, multidimensional measures of diversity and further research on how board diversity interacts with top management, institutional settings, and stakeholder outcomes.