Emily Estrada
Research Mentor(s): Yue Zhou
Department or Program: Ross School of Business
Authors:
Session: Session 1: 12:00pm-12:50pm
Poster: 2
Abstract
This research project delves into corporate competition within capitalist markets, emphasizing the significance of mergers and acquisitions in fostering success. It specifically investigates persistent racial and gender gaps in upper-tier corporate roles and their potential influence on diversity within management. Key studies by authors such as Babcock, Recalde, Vesterlund, Bertrand, Mullainathan, Croft, Schmader, Block, Fernandez, Fernandez-Mateo, Rudman, and Phelan have highlighted this issue. In addition to past key studies, this project aims to analyze factors at the industry, organizational, and individual levels using U.S. public and private company datasets. Despite the ambiguity surrounding the impact of diversifying corporate boards on upper-level management representation, conducting a comprehensive study, examining the progression of women and URMs in middle management becomes essential to understanding and addressing these inequalities. The outcomes of this research hold potential implications for various sectors. It can inform corporate decisions, governmental policies, and societal understanding of market behaviors. Advisors can utilize this information to offer deeper analyses for companies, potentially guiding their strategic directions. Moreover, the project may shed light on connections between anti-competitive behaviors and identifiable characteristics, influencing policy decisions. Addressing potential gender roles in mergers and acquisitions could prompt corrective measures within the field, supporting broader research endeavors in related areas like labor economics.
