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The groups who benefit from diversity-based recruitment in the Canada Research Chairs program have the lowest research impact
The case of Jason Arday shows that when a system of prestige institutions drops its standards on the basis of identity characteristics, the effects can be tragic. Cambridge University claims that Arday is an exception, but the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s new report, “The Equity-Excellence Tradeoff: a Study of EDI in the Canada Research Chairs Program,” suggests that he is the rule: equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) hiring damages academic excellence at scale. Nowhere is this more evident than in the prestigious Canada Research Chairs program.
While academic researchers have debunked the unrigorous “diversity is our strength” claims of EDI champions like consulting firm McKinsey & Company, ours is the first quantitative study to show that EDI is not merely neutral, but can actively reduce organizational performance. This occurs through “diversity hiring” less capable individuals and funding scholar-activism.
Continue reading the entire piece here at National Post (paywall)
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Eric Kaufmann is Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham.