Gender equality in decision-making positions: the efficiency gains

This article provides evidence that there are efficiency gains from removing gender gaps and promoting gender equality in decision-making positions. These gains include a better quality of the institution and the organization, a positive effect on economic outcomes and performance and a new agenda. First, promoting women in top positions implies a dramatic change of the initial status quo dominated by male representatives. As competent and talented women are abundant, this change induces a better selection process with positive effects on the quality of representatives. I will provide evidence of this mechanism both in the context of business and politics. Second, women contribute to outcomes and performance of institutions and organizations. The relationship between gender and economic performance is a controversial one, and non conclusive. I will discuss causal studies, which show that women are associated with better performance. Third, women in decision-making positions may contribute to the definition of a new agenda, including items which are typically neglected by men. These include, for example, for companies a greater attention to less risky decisions, or to sustainability and environmental policies with a longer time-horizon, and for policy-makers more investment in education and social needs