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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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