Gender and the Study of Economics: Is There A Role Model Effect?

Roberta Edgecombe Robb and A. Leslie Robb
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: A. Leslie Robb ()

Quantitative Studies in Economics and Population Research Reports from McMaster University

Abstract: In this paper we explore the question of whether the gender of the instructor in first year university microeconomics might play a role either in the performance of students in the course - especially the performance of female students - or in the likelihood that a student will continue in economics. We could find no evidence that gender of instructor matters. As in other studies, we find that female students fare worse in economics than do male students controlling for measured ability and background. Moreover, fewer females continue in economics than do males, even conditioning on first year performance. Yet again, we could find no indication that the gender of instructor made any difference to the continuation probability. We are unable to contribute to the explanation of the puzzle of female performance or continuation in economics, therefore, though we cast some doubt on one of the hypotheses that has been suggested.

Keywords: gender; study of economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A20 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 27 pages
Date: 1997-07
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mcm:qseprr:332

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