Variation in Women's Success across PhD Programs in Economics
Publication type
journal article
Publication date
2019
Author(s)
Boustan, Leah
Langan, Andrew
Language
English
View point(s)
Institutional
PhD Level
Discipline(s)
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.
Journal
Journal of Economic Perspectives
ISSN
0895-3309
Volume
33
Issue
1
Pagination
23-42