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Diversity and Inclusion

Firms Aren’t Living Up to Their Diversity Claims

A new paper co-authored by Professor Edward Watts finds that for many companies, actual diversity efforts bear little resemblance to the claims made in public disclosures. What’s more, funds from socially conscious investors flow more to firms that engage in this “diversity washing.”

An illustration of a banner covered in colorful charts being hoisted in front of a corporate building
  • When Women Speak, Do People Listen?

    In a study of farming villages in Malawi, Yale SOM’s Mushfiq Mobarak and his colleagues found that women’s performance on communication tasks seemed to be hindered by how other people received their work.

    Mary Musa on her farm in Malawi in 2010.
  • Single Women Get Lower Returns from Housing Investments

    A new study from Yale SOM’s Kelly Shue and Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham finds that single women who buy and sell real estate lose out on an average of $1,600 per year.

    A for sale sign outside a house
  • In Finance Field, Gender Disparities Are Significant—But Shrinking

    More women are being hired for finance positions at top business schools, according to a study co-authored by Yale SOM's Heather Tookes, but progress is slow. The study suggests that this may be due to limited collaborator networks.

    Detail from "Graduates" by Judy Pokras
  • A Few Seconds of Speech Sparks Class Bias in Hiring

    New research by Yale SOM’s Michael Kraus shows that people can accurately assess a stranger’s socioeconomic position based on brief speech patterns and that these snap perceptions influence hiring managers in ways that favor job applicants from higher social classes.

    A green pear with a green speech bubble and a red apple with a red speech bubble
  • When the School Mascot Is a Native American Stereotype  

    Researchers led by Yale SOM’s Michael Kraus and psychology doctoral student Xanni Brown found that a university community’s acceptance of a racist symbol affects students’ sense of belonging and may decrease willingness to donate in the future.

    A protest before a Washington Redskins-Minnesota Vikings football game in Minneapolis in 2014. Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images.
  • Why Leaders Need to Care about Diversity

    Eileen Murray, the co-CEO of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, says that top leaders at financial firms need to do more to foster diversity—or risk falling behind in the race to innovate.

    Illustration
  • Stereotypes of Asian Americans Skew Estimates of Racial Wealth Gap

    According to Yale SOM's Michael Kraus, the stereotype of high-achieving Asian Americans may obscure the needs of communities living in poverty and contribute to bias against other groups.

    Demonstrators supporting Harvard University’s admission process at a protest in October 2018. Photo: Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images.
  • Competition Can Make Corporate Cultures More Socially Progressive

    A study by Yale SOM’s Alexander Zentefis and Gary Gorton suggests a progressive competitor can push a company to change under the right circumstances.

    An office with desks on a series of levels connected by stairs
  • The Roots of Economic Inequality

    A new study co-authored by Yale SOM's Michael Kraus shows that deeply ingrained social behaviors play a role in perpetuating economic inequality.

    Workers and customers in a nail salon
  • White Liberals Present Themselves as Less Competent in Interactions with African-Americans

    A new study suggests that white Americans who hold liberal socio-political views use language that makes them appear less competent in an effort to get along with racial minorities.

    Artwork of women of various races speaking