Journal of Economic Perspectives
ISSN 0895-3309 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7965 (Online)
Variation in Women's Success across PhD Programs in Economics
Journal of Economic Perspectives
vol. 33,
no. 1, Winter 2019
(pp. 23–42)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
We document wide and persistent variation in women's representation and success across graduate programs in economics. Using new data on early career outcomes for recent graduates, including first job placement, publications, and promotion, we rank (anonymized) departments on outcomes for women relative to men graduating from the same program. We then conduct interviews with faculty and former students from five programs with better and worse relative outcomes. We find that departments with better outcomes for women also hire more women faculty, facilitate advisor-student contact, provide collegial research seminars, and are notable for senior faculty with awareness of gender issues. We offer our qualitative evidence as the first step in learning about "what works" in expanding women's representation in economics.Citation
Boustan, Leah, and Andrew Langan. 2019. "Variation in Women's Success across PhD Programs in Economics." Journal of Economic Perspectives 33 (1): 23–42. DOI: 10.1257/jep.33.1.23Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- A11 Role of Economics; Role of Economists; Market for Economists
- A23 Economic Education and Teaching of Economics: Graduate
- J16 Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
- J44 Professional Labor Markets; Occupational Licensing