As part of the research seminar "UIm Lectures in Mathematics and Economics" - ULME - the first seminar of this summer semester will take place. Amelie Schiprowski (University of Bonn) will present her work: "Committee Deliberation and Gender Differences in Influence" (joint work with Jonas Radbruch).

Date: Thursday, 08.05.2025 at 4:15 - 5:30 pm

Room: Helmholtzstrasse 18, Room 1.20

Contact: Prof. Dr Sandra Ludwig

Abstract: 

This paper provides empirical evidence on the aggregation of information in committees. We use data on the decision-making process of hiring committees within a large company, where committee members first conduct independent one-to-one interviews and then deliberate on a collective hiring decision. We find that the mapping of committee members' initial assessments to final decisions is not deterministic, leaving room for deliberation and individual influence to shape decision outcomes. Decisions are systematically less aligned with the initial recommendations of women than with those of men, despite equal levels of qualification and experience. This gender difference in influence is strongest when disagreement is large and when women are in the minority. Estimating the distribution of influence, we find that most men are more influential than the median woman on the committee. We document implications for the gender composition of new hires.