Cracking the Deck: National origins and promotions in the Dutch East India Company, 1700–1796.

This article examines the impact of formal leadership training and teamwork incentives on reducing ethnic inequality in promotions within the Dutch East India Company (Vereeinigde Oostindische Compagnie, VOC) during the eighteenth century. Using historical data and multivariate regression analyses, the study finds that non-Dutch seafarers faced lower promotion rates and discounted returns to experience compared to Dutchmen before the introduction of these programs. The implementation of compulsory leadership training (Académie de Marine) combined with financial incentives for teamwork reduced these disparities, promoting more equitable career advancement; however, these benefits largely disappeared after the policies were rescinded. The findings highlight that training programs are more effective against organizational inequality when integrated into broader systemic changes and accompanied by behavioral incentives, but such interventions may produce only temporary improvements without sustained accountability and support.