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Diversity and social capital within the workplace: Evidence from Britain

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Breda

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Alan Manning

    (CEP - LSE - Centre for Economic Performance - LSE - London School of Economics and Political Science)

Abstract

This article uses the British Workplace Employee Relations Survey to investigate the links between gender or ethnic diversity and workers' level of trust in managers or the extent of identity with the values and objectives of the firm – dimensions of what we might call social capital within the workplace. These are both factors that one might expect to make firms more cooperative and, hence, productive. Controlling for plants workforce composition, we find an opposite effect of females and ethnic minorities: a higher female share in the plant is associated with higher trust and identity for both men and women (men much more than women), while a higher minority share is associated with lower trust and identity.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Breda & Alan Manning, 2025. "Diversity and social capital within the workplace: Evidence from Britain," Post-Print hal-04872995, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04872995
    DOI: 10.1111/irel.12384
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://cnrs.hal.science/hal-04872995v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • M5 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics

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