Diversity, Inclusion, and the Dissemination of Ideas: Evidence from the Academic Finance Profession

Abstract

We propose to examine how diversity relates to variation in career outcomes within a single occupation: the occupation of a finance academic. With the support of the American Finance Association (AFA), we surveyed current and recent past members of the AFA on the professional climate in the field of finance. Responses shed light on issues related to workplace culture, diversity, bias, and expectations. By linking these responses to self‐reported data on career outcomes, we highlight the importance of: selection, the structure of work, and implicit or explicit biases. We seek to understand how these factors relate to differences in career paths within finance. We highlight that the consequences of an absence of inclusiveness extend beyond the personal to the field as a whole. Finally, we also provide evidence on the ways the COVID‐19 pandemic has influenced these issues.

Keywords: diversity, survey, academics

JEL Classification: A1, G00, J00, M14