More women is better. Well, that’s the theory. Studies conducted by the likes of Goldman Sachs, the UN and McKinsey have suggested that greater gender balance in the boardroom improves financial results. That, in turn, has encouraged various countries to consider quotas. Norway went first, requiring listed companies to reserve 40 per cent of board seats for women from 2008. Spain and France have followed, setting targets for 2015 and 2017. Germany and the UK are now considering the idea. Even the European Union might consider mandatory measures if its call for voluntary action does not catch on. So how are women doing when it comes to steering companies through choppy recessionary waters? That’s not so clear.
有更多女性參與會更好。嗯，理論上說是這樣的。諸如高盛(Goldman Sachs)、聯合國(UN)和麥肯錫(McKinsey)等機構的研究都表明，提高董事會中男女比例的均衡程度，有利於改善公司盈利狀況。這一理論進而鼓勵各國考慮爲女性留出配額。最早採取行動的是挪威。該國規定，從2008年起，上市公司的女性董事比例必須達到40%以上。西班牙和法國緊隨其後，分別制定了2015年和2017年的目標。德國和英國也正考慮出臺類似舉措。歐盟(EU)則要求企業採取自願行動，但假如企業沒有領會個中真意，歐盟也可能考慮強制性措施。那麼，當經濟處於波濤洶湧的退潮期時，負責掌舵的女士們表現如何呢？答案並非一目瞭然。