A social network analysis of interlocking directorates in French firms

Using Social Network Analysis, this study investigates whether a board interlocking network exists among the French listed companies (we consider the French Financial Indices CAC 40 and SBF 250) and how this network differs between CAC40 companies and SBF250 companies. Moreover, this research focuses on whether a firm's centrality is associated with its size. The results suggest that (1) the interlocking network is denser in 1996 and 2010 than in 2005, (2) big companies (size is measured by the firm's market capitalization) are the central nodes in these networks, (3) the location of the company is more important than simply the number of ties.