APS
2026 APS Annual Convention · 2026
Talking the Talk: Corporate D&I Discourse, Workforce Diversity, and Firm Behaviour
- Teresa Almeida
London School of Economics and Political Science
Abstract
We develop text-based measures of diversity and inclusion (D&I) discourse in 6,000+ UK and US corporate reports (2015–2024), distinguishing symbolic discussion from concrete action. We examine when D&I talk exceeds actual diversity and how this relates to ESG controversies, governance and employee experiences, drawing on impression management and legitimacy theories.