<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This study examines the impact of the quality of board members’ educational background on the financial performance of a group of Eurozone banks. Return on average assets (ROAA), Return on average equity (ROAE), and Tobin’s Q are used as measures to assess bank financial performance. Three indices are used as proxies for board members’ educational qualifications: Eduindex, for all academic qualifications in areas such as business or economics; Eduversal, for all qualifications from business schools ranked by Eduniversal; and EduFT, for all qualifications from business schools ranked by the Financial Times. Our study results offer relevant policy implications. Generally, there is a significant negative effect from Eduversal and EduFT qualifications on bank financial performance. This effect can be explained by the fact that some well-qualified board members use their expertise for their own interest, which, in most cases, is not favourable for bank financial performance. The implication is that the European Central Bank needs to implement more rigorous measures than those currently imposed to control bank board member behaviour and reduce agency problems.</p>
</abstract>

This study examines the impact of the quality of board members’ educational background on the financial performance of a group of Eurozone banks. Return on average assets (ROAA), Return on average equity (ROAE), and Tobin’s Q are used as measures to assess bank financial performance. Three indices are used as proxies for board members’ educational qualifications: Eduindex, for all academic qualifications in areas such as business or economics; Eduversal, for all qualifications from business schools ranked by Eduniversal; and EduFT, for all qualifications from business schools ranked by the Financial Times. Our study results offer relevant policy implications. Generally, there is a significant negative effect from Eduversal and EduFT qualifications on bank financial performance. This effect can be explained by the fact that some well-qualified board members use their expertise for their own interest, which, in most cases, is not favourable for bank financial performance. The implication is that the European Central Bank needs to implement more rigorous measures than those currently imposed to control bank board member behaviour and reduce agency problems.

Board Members’ Educational Background and Financial Performance: Evidence from Eurozone Banks

Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL)

Journal of Central Banking Theory and Practice

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This study examines the impact of the quality of board members’ educational background on the financial performance of a group of Eurozone banks. Return on...

Board Members’ Educational Background and Financial Performance: Evidence from Eurozone Banks

Publié en ligne: 23 sept. 2022

Pages: 203 - 227

Reçu: 13 juil. 2021

Accepté: 11 nov. 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jcbtp-2022-0030

Mots clés
Bank financial performance, corporate governance, board of directors, educational background, Eurozone banking

© 2022 Vítor Manuel Morais Pereira et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Board Members’ Educational Background and Financial Performance: Evidence from Eurozone Banks

Publié en ligne: 23 sept. 2022

Pages: 203 - 227

Reçu: 13 juil. 2021

Accepté: 11 nov. 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jcbtp-2022-0030

Mots clésBank financial performance, corporate governance, board of directors, educational background, Eurozone banking

© 2022 Vítor Manuel Morais Pereira et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Mots clés
Bank financial performance, corporate governance, board of directors, educational background, Eurozone banking