Women in Economics: Moving Up or Falling Off the Academic Career Ladder?

• DOI: 10.1257/0895330042162386
• Publication Date: 2004-10-07T21:39:03Z
• Authors: Donna K Ginther; Shulamit Kahn
• Keywords: Promotion (chess); Falling (accident); Gender gap; Representation; Occupational Licensing

The percentage of economics doctorates awarded to women has increased over the past twenty years. This article considers whether Ph.D. economists have their representation in academia, particularly at higher tenured ranks. Our study draws upon several empirical approaches and multiple data sets for 1990s. We find that when compared with other academic disciplines, are less likely get tenure take longer achieve it. Although gender differences productivity effect children on promotion partly explain women's lesser chances receiving economics, a significant portion gap remains unexplained by observable characteristics.