Engendering Pluralism in Economics: Gendered Perspectives from an International Survey of Economists

Mohsen Javdani
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Mohsen Javdani: Simon Fraser University

No inetwp238, Working Papers Series from Institute for New Economic Thinking

Abstract: This study contributes to growing calls for greater pluralism in economics by examining how gender shapes economists' normative and epistemological orientations. Drawing on original survey data from 2,425 economists across 19 countries, we document systematic gender differences in views on a broad range of issues. Female economists are significantly more likely to support progressive equity-oriented positions, challenge mainstream assumptions, and endorse pluralistic approaches to inquiry. We also find stark gender differences in political ideology: women are far more likely than men to identify as left-leaning—particularly far-left—while men disproportionately align with centrist or right-leaning ideologies. These ideological divides account for some of the gender differences in views, underscoring the mediating role of political ideology. However, the influence of ideology itself varies by gender: moving rightward on the ideological spectrum reduces support for some progressive positions more sharply among men than women. This suggests that gendered experiences inform distinct interpretive frameworks that persist even within shared ideological categories. Taken together, our findings highlight that gender diversity in economics is not merely demographic but epistemic—and that realizing its transformative potential requires institutional environments that value and legitimize dissenting and underrepresented perspectives.

Keywords: Gender Diversity; Economics Profession; Pluralistic Diversity; Political Ideology. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A11 A13 B54 D63 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 32 pages
Date: 2024-08-20
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hme, nep-hpe and nep-sog
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:thk:wpaper:inetwp238

DOI: 10.36687/inetwp238

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