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Politics and gender in the executive suite

Author

Listed:
  • Alma Cohen
  • Moshe Hazan
  • David Weiss

Abstract

Recent years have seen increased interest in gender diversity within corporate America. CEOs’ political preferences have been shown to influence many corporate decisions. Evidence suggests that views on gender equality align more with political preferences than an individual’s gender. We investigate if CEOs’ political leanings correlate with female representation and compensation in the executive suite. We discover that Democratic CEOs (those donating more to Democratic candidates) correlate with greater female presence in the executive suite. Using an event-study method, we find replacing a Republican with a Democratic CEO leads to a 20%–50% rise in executive suite female representation. Additionally, Democratic CEOs significantly reduce, or eliminate, the gender pay gap in executive compensation levels and performance sensitivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Alma Cohen & Moshe Hazan & David Weiss, 2025. "Politics and gender in the executive suite," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 41(3), pages 893-929.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jleorg:v:41:y:2025:i:3:p:893-929.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jleo/ewae011
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    Cited by:

    1. Engelmann, Dirk & Janeba, Eckhard & Mechtenberg, Lydia & Wehrhöfer, Nils, 2023. "Preferences over taxation of high-income individuals: Evidence from a survey experiment," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    2. Hazan, Moshe & Weiss, David & Zoabi, Hosny, 2023. "Highly educated women are no longer childless: The role of marketization," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    3. Brogaard, Jonathan & Gerasimova, Nataliya & Rohrer, Maximilian, 2024. "The effect of female leadership on contracting from Capitol Hill to Main Street," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    4. Muller, Seán M., 2021. "The dangers of performative scientism as the alternative to anti-scientific policymaking: A critical, preliminary assessment of South Africa’s Covid-19 response and its consequences," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • M51 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Firm Employment Decisions; Promotions

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