Unveiling the Drivers of CSR Disclosure in Emerging Economies: The Role of Boardrooms and Firm Characteristics in Palestine

This study examines the impact of board composition and firm-specific characteristics on corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure among firms listed on the Palestine Exchange (PEX) over the period 2014–2023. A total of 430 observations from 43 firms formed the basis for measuring CSR disclosure through a 28-item assessment. Statistical analyses conducted through STATA showed Palestinian firms disclosed 46% of the items comprising the CSR index. The results indicate a significant negative association between both board size and independence and CSR disclosure, while the presence of an audit committee, firm age, and firm size were found to have a significant positive effect. Conversely, variables such as CEO duality, board gender diversity, board meetings, board education, firm profitability, and financial leverage did not show any significant effects. The research proposes that Palestinian public officials should support standardized corporate social responsibility disclosure measurement tools to achieve enhanced transparency alongside responsible board committee operations. This research contributes new knowledge to developing country corporate social responsibility studies because it offers applied recommendations and actionable evidence for both business operations and regulatory institutions.