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Variation in Women's Success across PhD Programs in Economics

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  • Leah Boustan
  • Andrew Langan

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Leah Boustan & Andrew Langan, 2019. "Variation in Women's Success across PhD Programs in Economics," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 33(1), pages 23-42, Winter.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:jecper:v:33:y:2019:i:1:p:23-42
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/jep.33.1.23
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    9. Heather Antecol & Kelly Bedard & Jenna Stearns, 2018. "Equal but Inequitable: Who Benefits from Gender-Neutral Tenure Clock Stopping Policies?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(9), pages 2420-2441, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Panizza, Ugo & Nano, Enrico & Viarengo, Martina, 2021. "A Generation of Italian Economists," CEPR Discussion Papers 16135, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Jones, Todd R. & Sloan, Arielle A., 2021. "The Academic Origins of Economics Faculty," IZA Discussion Papers 14965, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. J. Ignacio Conde-Ruiz & Juan-José Ganuza & Manu García & Luis A. Puch, 2021. "Gender Distribution across Topics in Top 5 Economics Journals: A Machine Learning Approach," Working Papers 1241, Barcelona School of Economics.
    4. MinSub Kim & Joyce J. Chen & Bruce A. Weinberg, 2023. "Gender pay gaps in economics: A deeper look at institutional factors," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 54(4), pages 471-486, July.
    5. Biermann, Marcus, 2024. "Remote talks: Changes to economics seminars during COVID-19," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    6. Todd Pugatch & Elizabeth Schroeder, 2021. "Promoting Female Interest in Economics: Limits to Nudges," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 111, pages 123-127, May.
    7. Yihui Lan & Kenneth W Clements & Zong Ken Chai, 2022. "Australian PhDs in Economics and Finance: Professional Activities, Productivity and Prospects," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 22-04, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    8. Ann Mari May & Mary G. McGarvey & Muazzam Toshmatova, 2024. "Gender differences in graduate student views on the professional climate in economics," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 42(2), pages 206-222, April.
    9. Mila Getmansky Sherman & Heather E. Tookes, 2022. "Female Representation in the Academic Finance Profession," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 77(1), pages 317-365, February.
    10. Dennis Wesselbaum, 2023. "Understanding the Drivers of the Gender Productivity Gap in the Economics Profession," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 68(1), pages 61-73, March.
    11. Paredes, Valentina & Paserman, M. Daniele & Pino, Francisco J., 2020. "Does Economics Make You Sexist?," IZA Discussion Papers 13223, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. João Ricardo Faria & Franklin G. Mixon & William C. Sawyer, 2023. "Human Capital, Networks and Segmentation in the Market for Academic Economists," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-15, June.
    13. Chitra Jogani & Gerardo Ruiz Sánchez, 2023. "An empirical analysis of sexual harassment case outcomes in academia," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 43(4), pages 1593-1600.
    14. Farré, Lídia & Ortega, Francesc, 2021. "Family Ties, Geographic Mobility and the Gender Gap in Academic Aspirations," IZA Discussion Papers 14561, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Keng, Shao-Hsun, 2020. "Gender bias and statistical discrimination against female instructors in student evaluations of teaching," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    16. Farré, Lídia & Ortega, Francesc, 2019. "Selecting Talent: Gender Differences in Participation and Success in Competitive Selection Processes," IZA Discussion Papers 12530, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    17. Andrew Hussey & Sheena Murray & Wendy Stock, 2022. "Gender, coauthorship, and academic outcomes in economics," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 60(2), pages 465-484, April.
    18. Bransch, Felix & Kvasnicka, Michael, 2022. "Male Gatekeepers: Gender Bias in the Publishing Process?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 714-732.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • A23 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Graduate
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J44 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Professional Labor Markets and Occupations

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