Since last year, Norwegian listed companies have been under a legal obligation to ensure 40 per cent board representation for each gender. France and other states are considering copying the quota. It is still early but results reported by the FT on Monday seem promising.

Norway’s legislation had two unrelated motivations. One was the perception that low female representation on boards was caused not by women’s choices but by an unfair lack of access. The second was the idea that more diverse boards exhibit less group-think and conformism – to the benefit of companies and society at large.