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Enmity or Empathy? Women and the Toxic Culture in Economics

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  • Vanaja Pernankil
  • Timothy R. Hodge

Abstract

We review and test two competing hypotheses that associate the observed toxicity in economics with the profession's demographics. Utilizing secondary data on negative Economics Job Market Rumors (EJMR) posts connected to US institutions of higher education along with economic department demographics, we examine the correlation between female representation in economics and an institution's underlying toxic culture. Increases in the percentage of women graduating with an economics degree are associated with fewer negative posts and a lower probability that an institution has a large number of negative posts. However, departments with a greater share of female faculty are associated with more negative posts. These contrasting findings imply that efforts to improve the culture may require different strategies at each level.

Suggested Citation

  • Vanaja Pernankil & Timothy R. Hodge, 2026. "Enmity or Empathy? Women and the Toxic Culture in Economics," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 93(1), pages 446-456, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:93:y:2026:i:1:p:446-456
    DOI: 10.1002/soej.70014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alice H. Wu, 2018. "Gendered Language on the Economics Job Market Rumors Forum," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 108, pages 175-179, May.
    2. Samuel Bazzi & Arya Gaduh & Alexander D. Rothenberg & Maisy Wong, 2019. "Unity in Diversity? How Intergroup Contact Can Foster Nation Building," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(11), pages 3978-4025, November.
    3. 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.
    4. Alice H. Wu, 2020. "Gender Bias among Professionals: An Identity-Based Interpretation," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 102(5), pages 867-880, December.
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