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Gender Diversity in Firms

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  • Ghazala Azmat

    (ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CEP - LSE - Centre for Economic Performance - LSE - London School of Economics and Political Science)

  • Anne Boring

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam, LIEPP - Laboratoire interdisciplinaire d'évaluation des politiques publiques (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po)

Abstract

This paper explores the recent efforts by the corporate world and public policy to increase the number of women in leadership positions in the workplace. We review and empirically evaluate the ‘business case' for gender equality, showing some evidence in favour of it. Despite the evidence and growing support, progress towards more diversity in leadership positions has been slow. We study the importance of supply-side constraints, as well as the main diversity policies (gender quotas, mentoring and network programmes, diversity training to change firm culture, and family friendly policies) that have been implemented. We focus on the effectiveness of these policies, their shortcomings, as well as potential future steps that could help guide policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Ghazala Azmat & Anne Boring, 2021. "Gender Diversity in Firms," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03873828, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:spmain:hal-03873828
    DOI: 10.1093/oxrep/graa043
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-03873828
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    Cited by:

    1. Jose Garcia-Louzao & Ruben Perez-Sanz, 2024. "Women’s Voice at Work and Family-Friendly Firms," CESifo Working Paper Series 10982, CESifo.
    2. Deng, Jiapin & Lu, Di, 2024. "The Old Boys’ Club and Board Gender Diversity: Evidence from the Anti-corruption Campaign in China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 626-656.
    3. Jonas Radbruch & Amelie Schiprowski, 2023. "Committee Deliberation and Gender Differences in Influences," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 398, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    4. Zeng, Tian & Botella-Carrubi, Dolores, 2023. "Improving societal benefit through transformative consumer research: A descriptive review," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    5. Ductor, Lorenzo & Prummer, Anja, 2024. "Gender homophily, collaboration, and output," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 477-492.
    6. Natalia Danzer & Sebastian Garcia-Torres & Max Friedrich Steinhardt & Luca Stella, 2024. "Women in political power and school closure during COVID times," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 39(120), pages 765-810.
    7. Pipiet Larasatie & Dagmar Karisch-Gierer & Alice Ludvig, 2022. "Women’s Woodland Owner Network: A Comparative Case Study of Oregon (the United States) and Austria," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-14, September.
    8. Osman, Adam & Speer, Jamin D. & Weaver, Andrew, 2023. "Discrimination against Women in Hiring," IZA Discussion Papers 16598, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Rjiba, Hatem & Thavaharan, Tharshan, 2022. "Female representation on boards and carbon emissions: International evidence," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    10. Boris Rumanko & Jana Kozáková & Mária Urbánová & Monika Hudáková, 2021. "Family Business as a Bearer of Social Sustainability in Multinationals-Case of Slovakia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-25, July.
    11. Boring, Anne & Delfgaauw, Josse, 2024. "Social desirability bias in attitudes towards sexism and DEI policies in the workplace," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 465-482.

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    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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