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on Gender |
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Issue of 2024‒09‒23
four papers chosen by Jan Sauermann, Institutet för Arbetsmarknads- och Utbildningspolitisk Utvärdering |
| By: | Sofoklis Goulas (Economic Studies, Brookings Institution); Bhagya N. Gunawardena (School of Economics, Finance, & Marketing, RMIT); Rigissa Megalokonomou (Department of Economics, Monash University); Yves Zenou (Department of Economics, Monash University) |
| Abstract: | Using Greek administrative data, we examine the impact of being randomly assigned to a classroom with a same-gender top-performing student on both short- and long-term educational outcomes. These top performers are tasked with keeping classroom attendance records, which positions them as role models. Both male and female students are influenced by the performance of a same-gender top performer and experience both spillover and conformist effects. However, only female students show significant positive effects from the presence of a same-gender role model. Specifically, female students improved their science test scores by 4 percent of a standard deviation, were 2.5 percentage points more likely to choose a STEM track, and were more likely to apply for and enroll in a STEM university degree 3 years later. These effects were most pronounced in lower-income neighborhoods. Our findings suggest that same-gender peer role models could reduce the underrepresentation of qualified females in STEM fields by approximately 3 percent. We further validate our findings through a lab-in-the-field experiment, in which students rated the perceived influence of randomized hypothetical top-performer profiles. The results suggest that the influence of same-gender top performers is primarily driven by exposure-related factors (increased perception of distinction feasibility and self-confidence) rather than direct interactions. |
| Keywords: | gender gap, lab-in-the-field experiment, natural experiment, random peer group formation, role models |
| JEL: | J24 J16 I24 I26 |
| Date: | 2024–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mos:moswps:2024-15 |
| By: | Harris, Jorgen M. (Occidental College); Patacchini, Eleonora (Cornell University) |
| Abstract: | In many countries, a significant share of the gender earnings gap stems not only from firm's practices, or self-selection into lower productivity jobs, but also from a lower participation among women. Inactivity around the age of motherhood is frequent including in the most advanced countries, and can have lasting consequences on the chances to return to the labor market, as well as future earnings and promotions. In this paper, we discuss the major barriers reducing women's labor force participation and examine the effects of several policies aimed at overcoming those barriers: parental leave, reserved paternal leave, state-funded childcare for young children, extended school hours, and individual taxation. For each, we provide a brief discussion of policy design and effectiveness. |
| Keywords: | economics of gender, child care, time allocation and labor supply, labor market policy, maternal and paternal labor force participation, gender norms |
| JEL: | J16 J13 J22 |
| Date: | 2024–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17219 |
| By: | Kansikas, Carolina (University of Warwick); Bagues, Manuel (University of Warwick) |
| Abstract: | We investigate whether term limits can help historically underrepresented groups, such as women, gain faster access to positions of political power. We exploit evidence from Italian local elections where, in a context of rapidly increasing women's presence in politics, mayoral term limits were extended from two to three five-year terms in municipalities with less than 3, 000 inhabitants in 2014 and in those with a population between 3, 000 and 5, 000 in 2022. Using as control group slightly larger municipalities, we find that longer term limits delay younger cohorts' access to mayoral roles, significantly slowing the increase in female representation. The magnitude of the effect is substantial; the share of female mayors would be 4-10 percentage points higher if term limits had not been extended. The impact is stronger in municipalities with a larger presence of women at lower political levels and where gender quotas are in place, suggesting a complementarity between these policies. Our findings suggest that term limits help bridge the representational gap between entry and top-level political positions, especially in times of rapid societal change. |
| Keywords: | term limits, female political representation, Italian local elections |
| JEL: | J16 J18 J48 D72 |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17175 |
| By: | Casamonti, Matilde (PwC Middle East); Zinovyeva, Natalia (University of Warwick) |
| Abstract: | We analyze the impact of evaluator and candidate gender on the language used in academic evaluations using data on 295, 000 evaluation reports for applicants seeking professorial promotion across all academic fields in Italy. In this context, candidates are assessed by a national-level committee composed of five randomly selected evaluators from the corresponding field. We observe that the language used in evaluation reports varies significantly with applicants’ productivity and professional ties to evaluators, but we find no indication that the language of the assessments depends on the gender of either the candidates or the evaluators. |
| Keywords: | Academic Evaluations ; Women in Academia ; Gendered Language JEL Codes: I23 ; J16 ; J71 ; M51 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wrk:warwec:1513 |