The Role of Regulatory Quality, Corporate Governance, and Women on Boards in Sustainable Development Goals Disclosure Across Asia‐Pacific Economic Cooperation

This study examines the structural conditions that shape corporate disclosure of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Asia‐Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries. Drawing on agency, institutional, and gender socialization theories, it investigates the role of regulatory quality, corporate governance, and the presence of women on boards in SDGs disclosure from 2019 to 2023. The results reveal that regulatory quality, corporate governance, and women's presence on boards play significant roles in enhancing SDGs disclosure, but these mechanisms operate differently in developed and developing countries, reflecting asymmetries in regulatory capacity and corporate governance maturity. In developed countries, SDGs disclosure is driven by regulatory quality and women on boards, reflecting the strong influence of institutional enforcement and board diversity. In developing countries, corporate governance mechanisms and women on boards are the key drivers, indicating that internal governance structures substitute for weaker institutions. Across both contexts, women's presence on boards consistently enhances SDGs disclosure.