Gender quotas for corporate boards – do they work? Lessons from Norway

By Piritta Sorsa. Norway has been a pioneer in using gender quotas for corporate boards. Gender balance can enrich board decisions with more diverse opinions and broader understanding of client needs (Storvik-Teigen 2010). Some studies show that more gender balanced boards improve return to investment or stock prices (Erhadrt-Werbel-Shrader (2003), Carter, Simkins and Simpson 2003). However, most OECD countries have very few women on corporate boards (Figure) reflecting cultural barriers or perceived lack of candidates. More...