Why is the number of students (Chi vs. Yale) who enter HBS and Stanford MBA programs important?
Maybe Chicago Econ grads are more apt to enter the work force than Yale Econ grads. Or maybe most who do apply for graduate business programs don’t apply to HBS or Stanford; maybe more Chicago grads apply to Wharton, Kellogg, Columbia, Fuqua, Haas, Stern, or their own alma mater’s great MBA program at Booth.
There could be any number of things to better explain why there are more Yale grads at HBS and the Stanford equivalent than “Yale grads are more qualified or are seen as such by HBS and Stanford GSB.”
This is all beside the point: these are both great schools with top-notch Econ (and overall) curriculum and teaching. Choice should be made based on personal fit with the school.