Gender Diversity in Senior Positions and Firm Performance: Evidence from Europe
IMF Working Papers, March 7, 2016
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Bibliographic details
- Authors: Lone Engbo Christiansen, Huidan Huidan Lin, Joana Pereira, Petia Topalova, Rima A Turk
- Published: March 7, 2016
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513553283.001
Summary
- This paper examines the link between gender diversity in senior corporate positions and financial performance of 2 million companies in Europe.
- The authors document a positive association between corporate return on assets and the share of women in senior positions.
- Two potential channels through which gender diversity may affect firm performance are established.
Key findings
- Positive association between corporate return on assets and the share of women in senior positions.
- The positive correlation is more pronounced in:
- sectors where women form a larger share of the labor force (such as the services sector), and
- sectors where complementarities in skills and critical thinking are in high demand (such as high-tech and knowledge-intensive sectors).
Data and scope
- Sample: 2 million companies in Europe.
- Pages: 29
- Volume: 2016
- Issue: 050
- Series: Working Paper No. 2016/050
Publication and authorship
- By Lone Engbo Christiansen, Huidan Huidan Lin, Joana Pereira, Petia Topalova, Rima A Turk
- March 7, 2016
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513553283.001
- Stock No: WPIEA2016050
- ISBN: 9781513553283
- ISSN: 1018-5941
IMF Working Papers — Gender Diversity in Senior Positions and Firm Performance: Evidence from Europe