Do diverse board structures affect CSR disclosure? Transitional economic evidence

This study examines the association between board characteristics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure intensity in 27 Vietnamese commercial banks during 2010–2022 using two-step system generalized method of moments estimation. The aggregate results show that board size, board gender diversity, and female CEO leadership are negatively associated with CSR disclosure intensity, whereas foreign board representation is positively associated with aggregate disclosure; board independence is statistically insignificant. However, decomposing CSR disclosure intensity into eight stakeholder-related dimensions reveals mixed dimension-specific results for all board characteristics. The study extends the governance – CSR literature by providing evidence from Vietnam’s transitional banking sector and distinguishing between aggregate and stakeholder-specific disclosure. The findings offer context-specific implications for bank managers and regulators seeking to strengthen board effectiveness and CSR transparency.