Research
Research
Women Appointed to Corporate Boards: Network Centrality and the Gender Quota Reform - Latest draft
This paper investigates the interplay between professional network centrality and gender quotas in shaping board appointments, focusing on the Cope-Zimmerman law implemented in France in 2010. Using a comprehensive dataset from the BoardEx database covering publicly listed French firms from 2001 to 2019, I analyze how professional networks influence the likelihood of first-time board appointments and whether the quota reform altered these dynamics. Network centrality, measured through degree and betweenness metrics, is found to be a significant determinant of board appointments. Employing an instrumental variable approach, I address potential endogeneity in network formation by using the centrality of second-degree connections as an instrument. The results indicate that the gender quota substantially increased female representation on boards, with first-time appointees becoming better qualified post-reform. However, the benefits of the quota were not evenly distributed, as women with higher network centrality were better positioned to capitalize on the opportunities created. The findings underscore the effectiveness of quotas in reducing gender disparities but highlight the persistent role of network-driven barriers in shaping access to board positions.
Presentations:
2025: South West Economics PhD Conference at the University of Exeter, UK
2025: Irish Economic Association Annual Conference, Queen’s University Belfast
2024: Lightning talks by GW4 Universities ECRs at 2nd Diversity and Human Capital Workshop at the University of Exeter, UK
2024: PGR conference at University of Exeter, UK
Information sharing in university networks of students in Pakistan
Stereotypes and Effort Provision in Teams (with Ashley McCrea and Joel Lamb)