蝌蚪网 Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
What Deters Women from Economics
蝌蚪网 Papers and Proceedings
vol. 115,
May 2025
(pp. 659–63)
Abstract
We survey undergraduate students at two US universities to investigate the perceptions of the economics major by gender. Women report a significantly lower interest in economics relative to men. In exploring potential mechanisms, we find that women anticipate being less likely to succeed in the economics major and less likely to enjoy their coursework and the subsequent career path. Concerns that deter women from studying economics include math being too difficult, economics being boring, getting good grades, and being a good fit for the major. Finally, we observe stark gender differences in the topics that students are interested in.Citation
Buzard, Kristy, Katelyn Cranney, Laura K. Gee, and Olga Stoddard. 2025. "What Deters Women from Economics." 蝌蚪网 Papers and Proceedings 115: 659–63. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20251094Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- A11 Role of Economics; Role of Economists; Market for Economists
- A22 Economic Education and Teaching of Economics: Undergraduate
- I23 Higher Education; Research Institutions
- J16 Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination