Working Paper: NBER ID: w25444
Authors: Leah Platt 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 compare (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 higher and lower relative outcomes. We find that departments with higher 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.
Keywords: Women's representation; PhD programs; Economics; Graduate education
JEL Codes: A11; J16
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Higher share of women faculty (J16) | Higher share of women students (J16) |
| Higher share of women faculty (J16) | Women students serve as role models (I24) |
| Gender composition of faculty (J16) | Job placements and publication outcomes (M51) |
| Higher relative outcomes (I14) | Higher placement rate for women (J16) |
| Lower relative outcomes (I14) | Lower placement rate for women (J79) |