Tim Harford, lack of the limited diversity is bad, but much worse is groupthink within mutual admiration clubs.

Sir, Tim Hartford argues that one argument in favor of diversity is “to engage with people who may see the world differently because of their race, nationality, sexuality, disability or gender.” “Economics: a discipline in need of diversity” November 12.

That is a way too restricted view on the importance of diversity. As an Executive Director of the World Bank, back in 2002-04, I often argued with my colleagues that if by lottery we would get rid of two us with so much alike backgrounds, substituting the eliminated with a nurse and a plumber, we would not only have a more knowledgeable Board but, more importantly, a much wiser one. Not surprisingly there was a general lack of enthusiasm in the response to this line of argument.

Likewise, if bank regulators had beside those with banking experience included some with borrowing experience within their ranks, those who could attest to the difficulties they already faced accessing bank credit when perceived as risky (even if all these were white men) we would never have had to suffer the sheer idiocy of the current risk weighted capital requirements for banks.

Sir, so to stuff mutual admiration clubs that can easily fall trap to groupthink with those who meet the current limited meanings of diversity, will result in much less than what is really needed.

@PerKurowski