The Policy Change That Decreased the Gender Gap by 200 ELO, with Dr. (and FM) Jose De Sousa

Dr. Jose De Sousa, a FIDE Master and renowned labor economist, discusses how a simple but profound rule change in the French chess league sparked tangible progress. In this episode, Jose shares the surprising results from over 35 years of data on gender quotas in French chess. The mandate of one woman per team increased female participation both at top levels and across the community. It also dramatically improved women’s performance and closed approximately 2/3 of the gender gap between 1990 and 2018. His research, conducted with Stanford’s Muriel Niederle, highlights that quotas can motivate clubs to train and retain women, creating a ripple effect across the community. This episode is perfect for anyone passionate about gender equity. If you believe structural change requires more than just good intentions and want to understand how targeted policies translate into real-world success, this is a must-listen.

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