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How You Can Work to Increase the Presence and Improve the Experience of Black, Latinx, and Native American People in the Economics Profession

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  • Amanda Bayer
  • Gary A. Hoover
  • Ebonya Washington

Abstract

Recently in economics there has been discussion of how to increase diversity in the profession and how to improve the work life of diverse peoples. We conducted surveys and interviews with Black, Latinx and Native American people. These groups have long been underrepresented in the economics profession. Participants were at various stages along the economics career trajectory, or on the trajectory no longer, and used their lived experience to reflect on what helps and hurts underrepresented minorities in economics. We heard a few consistent themes: bias, hostile climate, and the lack of information and good mentoring among them. Respondents' insights and experience point toward action steps that you can take today to increase the presence and improve the work life of underrepresented minorities in the economics profession.

Suggested Citation

  • Amanda Bayer & Gary A. Hoover & Ebonya Washington, 2020. "How You Can Work to Increase the Presence and Improve the Experience of Black, Latinx, and Native American People in the Economics Profession," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 34(3), pages 193-219, Summer.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:jecper:v:34:y:2020:i:3:p:193-219
    DOI: 10.1257/jep.34.3.193
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ann Mari May & Mary G. Mcgarvey & Robert Whaples, 2014. "Are Disagreements Among Male And Female Economists Marginal At Best?: A Survey Of Aea Members And Their Views On Economics And Economic Policy," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 32(1), pages 111-132, January.
    2. Robert W. Fairlie & Florian Hoffmann & Philip Oreopoulos, 2014. "A Community College Instructor Like Me: Race and Ethnicity Interactions in the Classroom," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(8), pages 2567-2591, August.
    3. Amanda Bayer & Syon P. Bhanot & Erin T. Bronchetti & Stephen A. O'Connell, 2020. "Diagnosing the Learning Environment for Diverse Students in Introductory Economics: An Analysis of Relevance, Belonging, and Growth Mindsets," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 110, pages 294-298, May.
    4. Lusher, Lester & Campbell, Doug & Carrell, Scott, 2018. "TAs like me: Racial interactions between graduate teaching assistants and undergraduates," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 203-224.
    5. Amanda Bayer & Cecilia Elena Rouse, 2016. "Diversity in the Economics Profession: A New Attack on an Old Problem," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 30(4), pages 221-242, Fall.
    6. Amanda Bayer & Syon P. Bhanot & Fernando Lozano, 2019. "Does Simple Information Provision Lead to More Diverse Classrooms? Evidence from a Field Experiment on Undergraduate Economics," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 109, pages 110-114, May.
    7. Nina Banks, 2005. "Black women and racial advancement: The economics of Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander," The Review of Black Political Economy, Springer;National Economic Association, vol. 33(1), pages 9-24, September.
    8. William Darity & Darrick Hamilton & James Stewart, 2015. "A Tour de Force in Understanding Intergroup Inequality: An Introduction to Stratification Economics," The Review of Black Political Economy, Springer;National Economic Association, vol. 42(1), pages 1-6, June.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Svenja Flechtner, 2021. "Dimensions of Poverty. Measurement, Epistemic Injustices and Social Activism," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 67(2), pages 530-544, June.
    3. Todd Pugatch & Elizabeth Schroeder, 2024. "A simple nudge increases socioeconomic diversity in undergraduate Economics," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 62(1), pages 287-307, January.
    4. Maria Cancian, 2021. "APPAM Presidential Address: Reflections on Who Counts and Why it Matters," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(2), pages 324-347, March.
    5. Michael Jaeger & Jadrian Wooten, 2023. "The Most Magical Way to Teach: Disney Music In The Classroom," Journal of Economics Teaching, Journal of Economics Teaching, vol. 8(1), pages 12-23, January.
    6. Christine Moser, 2022. "Doctoral degrees awarded to Blacks in agricultural economics: 1999–2019," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 2164-2180, December.
    7. Gary A. Hoover & Miesha Williams, 2022. "Historical racial exclusion from board membership at the Southern Economic Association, Western Economic Association International, Midwest Economics Association, and Eastern Economic Association and ," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 88(3), pages 861-868, January.
    8. Depro, Brooks, 2022. "Making introductory economics more relevant: Using personalized connections to introduce environmental economics," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    9. Lucia Foster & Erika McEntarfer & Danielle H. Sandler, 2022. "Diversity and Labor Market Outcomes in the Economics Profession," Working Papers 22-26, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J44 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Professional Labor Markets and Occupations

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