Could increasing the percentage of women on corporate boards have a trickle-down effect on the workforce? That's not the case when quotas, and later sanctions, are used to force businesses to invite more women to the boardroom.

By Simone Pathe

In other news Thursday, floodwater began to recede in New England's hard-hit communities, leaving enormous damage in its wake. Also, new federal rules for gas mileage and auto emissions became final.