Google, Meta, and Apple are trying to persuade the Supreme Court to allow race-based affirmative action by referencing a small and deeply flawed group of studies
Thanks for this well written and clear analysis. Another issue with claims about the benefits of diversity (or any other HR policy) for companies, is establishing the direction of causation. Even if the studies did show a clear and relevant correlation between increasing diversity and better company performance (which they don’t for the reasons in the essay) it could just as easily be the case that successful companies face more pressure to increase diversity than less prominent companies. And they can diversify without materially lowering standards due to being desirable workplaces with a deep pool of highly qualified applicants to choose from. I.e. that success leads to greater diversity rather than vice versa.
Excellent point. I think the particular studies cited in the brief fail on an even more fundamental level but this is undoubtedly important in the diversity literature more broadly. I am going to keep this in mind as I continue to write on these (and related issues). Thanks again!
Thanks for this well written and clear analysis. Another issue with claims about the benefits of diversity (or any other HR policy) for companies, is establishing the direction of causation. Even if the studies did show a clear and relevant correlation between increasing diversity and better company performance (which they don’t for the reasons in the essay) it could just as easily be the case that successful companies face more pressure to increase diversity than less prominent companies. And they can diversify without materially lowering standards due to being desirable workplaces with a deep pool of highly qualified applicants to choose from. I.e. that success leads to greater diversity rather than vice versa.
Excellent point. I think the particular studies cited in the brief fail on an even more fundamental level but this is undoubtedly important in the diversity literature more broadly. I am going to keep this in mind as I continue to write on these (and related issues). Thanks again!