Boards of directors and corporate sustainability performance: evidence from the emerging East Asian markets

The study examines the influence of board structure on the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of corporate sustainability performance from the perspective of agency theory and stakeholder theory. If a firm’s commitment to sustainable development is to satisfy environmental and social needs and to develop long-term relationships with all stakeholders for sustainable business, we expect that a board of directors would demonstrate their commitment by enhancing all different dimensions of sustainability. Based on a panel analysis of data from the emerging East Asian markets between 2011 and 2016, we identify which board attributes promote corporate sustainability performance and also prove that some attributes fit well with some particular sustainability dimensions. The findings have important implications by identifying the role of corporate boards in sustainability performance and providing a foundation for their efforts to enhance sustainable development.