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The unequal distribution of economic education: A report on the race, ethnicity, and gender of economics majors at U.S. colleges and universities

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  • Amanda Bayer
  • David W. Wilcox

Abstract

Economic education is distributed unequally. Among U.S. undergraduates, women and underrepresented minority students collectively major in economics at 0.36 the rate that white, non-Hispanic men do. The authors establish a definition of full inclusion in economic education and use that definition to evaluate the status quo and to compare institutions. A companion resource, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, provides interactive access to the data to attract and inform the attention of economists, university administrators, and others. The authors explain why the need to improve the distribution of economic education is urgent, including the imperative to support economic policymaking. Lastly, they point the way forward, identifying currently available resources and reasonable next steps for all involved parties to take.

Suggested Citation

  • Amanda Bayer & David W. Wilcox, 2019. "The unequal distribution of economic education: A report on the race, ethnicity, and gender of economics majors at U.S. colleges and universities," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(3), pages 299-320, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jeduce:v:50:y:2019:i:3:p:299-320
    DOI: 10.1080/00220485.2019.1618766
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Denise Robson, 2001. "Women and Minorities in Economics Textbooks: Are They Being Adequately Represented?," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(2), pages 186-191, January.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Megalokonomou, Rigissa & Vidal-Fernandez, Marian & Yengin, Duygu, 2021. "Underrepresentation of Women in Undergraduate Economics Degrees in Europe: A Comparison with STEM and Business," IZA Policy Papers 175, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Roland Happ & Susanne Schmidt & Olga Zlatkin-Troitschanskaia & William Walstad, 2023. "How Gender and Primary Language Influence the Acquisition of Economic Knowledge of Secondary School Students in the United States and Germany," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Depro, Brooks & Rouse, Kathryn, 2022. "Adapting the case method in an economics capstone research course," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    6. Salim Atay & Gunes A. Asik & Semih Tumen, 2024. "Impact of Graduating with Honours on Entry Wages of Economics Majors," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 86(3), pages 606-640, June.
    7. Sarah F. Small, 2023. "Infusing Diversity in a History of Economic Thought Course: An Archival Study of Syllabi and Resources for Redesign," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 49(3), pages 276-311, June.

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