Asymmetric Information celebrates International Women's Day 2023
Readings and networks to #EmbraceEquity this IWD
This International Women’s Day we’re sharing resources to keep you up to date with the latest in gender and economics, the work of female economists, and the networks in Aotearoa New Zealand.
On gender and bias
Gendered Language on the Economics Job Market Rumors Forum by Alice Wu
Alice Wu, in this American Economic Association paper, examines the existence of an unwelcoming or stereotypical culture using evidence on how women and men are portrayed in anonymous discussions on the Economics Job Market Rumors forum. She found the words most predictive of a post about a woman are typically about physical appearance or personal information, whereas those most predictive of a post about a man tend to focus on academic or professional characteristics.
Gender and the Dynamics of Economics Seminars by Pascaline Dupas, Alicia Sasser Modestino, Muriel Niederle, Justin Wolfers & the Seminar Dynamics Collective
This NBER paper attempts to quantitatively measure the seminar culture within economics, using data collected every interaction between presenters and their audience in hundreds of research seminars and job market talks across most leading US economics departments. The authors report that women presenters were treated differently than their male counterparts, being asked more questions, which are more likely to be patronising or hostile.
Gender and Risk-Taking: Economics, Evidence, and Why the Answer Matters By Julie Nelson
Economists often search for gender differences regarding risk-taking, altruism, and competition. In particular, the idea that "women are more risk-averse than men" has become accepted. But is it true? And what are its causes and consequences? Julie Nelson argues that men and women do not have underlying different risk preferences, and questions why so much of the literature claim to find evidence of "difference". It explores the economic implications of the association of risk-taking with masculinity and risk-aversion with femininity.
Rethinking economic ideas
A Herstory of Economics by Edith Kuiper
Histories of economic thought tend to overlook the contributions of women economists. Edith Kuiper tells the story of economic thought from the perspective of women whose work has been neglected, forgotten, and become invisible. This book introducing a range of female pioneers and reveals how their insights are invaluable to understanding areas of economics ranging from production, work, and the economics of the household, to income and wealth distribution, consumption, and public policy.
In Aotearoa New Zealand
Join the New Zealand Women in Economics Network (access via LinkedIn) to stay up to date with news and events.
Women in Data Science New Zealand (access via LinkedIn or Twitter) host an annual conference.
By Olivia Wills.
