Séminaires LEMMA

"Peer Effects and the Gender Gap in Corporate Leadership: Evidence from MBA Students ?"

Ashley Wong, co-écrit avec Menaka Hampole et Francesca Truffa

Mardi 4 février 2025, 11h-12h

Lemma - 4 rue Blaise Desgoffe, 75006 Paris. Salle Maurice Desplas

Ashley is an Assistant Professor at Tilburg University. Her research focuses on labor and gender economics with particular interests in topics of diversity and innovation. She is an invited researcher at J-PAL’s and a CESIFO Research Network Affiliate Member.

Abstract : Women continue to be underrepresented in corporate leadership positions. This paper studies the role of social connections in women's career advancement. We investigate whether access to a larger share of female peers in business school affects the gender gap in senior managerial positions. Merging administrative data from a top-10 U.S. business school with public LinkedIn profiles, we first document that female MBAs are 24\% less likely than male MBAs to enter senior management within 15 years of graduation. Next, we use the exogenous assignment of students into sections to show that a larger proportion of female MBA section peers increases the likelihood of entering senior management for women but not for men. This effect is driven by female-friendly firms, such as those with more generous maternity leave policies and greater work schedule flexibility. A larger proportion of female MBA peers induces women to transition to these firms where they attain senior management roles. A survey of female MBA alumnae reveals three key mechanisms: (i) information sharing, especially related to gender-specific advice, (ii) higher ambitions and self-confidence, and (iii) increasing support from male MBA peers.  These findings highlight the role of social connections in reducing the gender gap in senior management positions.

"Place-Based Policies : Opportunity for Deprived School or Zone-and-Shame Effect ?"

Miren Lafourcade

Mardi 28 janvier 2025, 11h-12h

Lemma - 4 rue Blaise Desgoffe, 75006 Paris. Salle Maurice Desplas