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The Women in Economics Index - Monitoring Women Economists' Representation in Leadership Positions

Author

Listed:
  • Jana Schuetz
  • Virginia Sondergeld
  • Insa Weilage

Abstract

We contribute to the research on gender representation in economics by documenting the share of women among economists in a variety of leadership positions in the academic, but also in the private and public sectors, both globally and by region. For the years 2019 to 2023, we find women economists’ representation overall to be low in all sectors and no clear-cut trends over time. In academia, we find women’s representation to be highest in Africa and Oceania, an observation that previous studies could not show so far as they analysed global top departments and thus mechanically focused on North America and Europe. Also for the public sector, we highlight significant regional discrepancies.

Suggested Citation

  • Jana Schuetz & Virginia Sondergeld & Insa Weilage, 2024. "The Women in Economics Index - Monitoring Women Economists' Representation in Leadership Positions," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 2076, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp2076
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pascaline Dupas & Alicia Sasser Modestino & Muriel Niederle & Justin Wolfers & The Seminar Dynamics Collective, 2021. "Gender and the Dynamics of Economics Seminars," NBER Working Papers 28494, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Erin Hengel, 2022. "Publishing While Female: are Women Held to Higher Standards? Evidence from Peer Review," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(648), pages 2951-2991.
    3. Shelly Lundberg, 2019. "Report: Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession (CSWEP)," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 109, pages 676-694, May.
    4. Heather Sarsons & Klarita Gërxhani & Ernesto Reuben & Arthur Schram, 2021. "Gender Differences in Recognition for Group Work," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(1), pages 101-147.
    5. Bateman, Victoria & Hengel, Erin, 2023. "The gender gap in UK academic economics 1996-2018: progress, stagnation and retreat," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118205, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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