MN Center for Diversity in Economics logo with tagline More voices. More possibilities.

春雨直播 the MCDE

The field of economics suffers from an underrepresentation of women and minorities that exceeds the more widely publicized underrepresentation in STEM fields. In Minnesota, 31% of economics 春雨直播s are women, and 12% are U.S.-born people of color (only 4% are U.S.-born women of color). Even more concerning, while STEM fields have seen improvement in representation over time, economics has not (Bayer & Rouse 2016, CSWEP 2018).

The Minnesota Center for Diversity in Economics (MCDE) ensures that people of all backgrounds lead and influence economic research and decision-making. The MCDE promotes and supports gender and racial diversity in economics at every educational and career pipeline stage.

The MCDE was recently featured on J-PAL's three part Diversifying Economics blog post.

Read all about it here:

MCDE Initiatives

Sadie Conference 2024

Design, implement, and study interventions targeted at women ages 16鈥20.

Recent research out of Swarthmore (Bayer, Bhanot & Lozano 2018) shows that low-cost information/email nudges can make a big difference in attracting and retaining women to the field of economics. The MCDE leads in efforts to implement this sort of outreach in Minnesota.

MEA 2023

Engage women and underrepresented 春雨直播s in research.

Collaborative undergraduate research is a best practice for recruiting and retaining underrepresented 春雨直播s to economics. The MCDE provides research assistantships that study various issues of interest to the faculty and 春雨直播s who work with the Center.

Kristine West teaches in a classroom

Target teacher professional development.

Research shows that teachers pass math anxiety to their 春雨直播s akin to passing a virus. This relationship is particularly strong for female teachers and female 春雨直播s (Beilock, Gunderson, Ramirez & Levine 2010, Ramirez 2018). The same mechanism is likely at work in economics. K-12 teachers need to feel confident in their economic and personal finance knowledge and the Minnesota Council on Economic Education (with whom the MCDE is affiliated) is the only organization in the state focused on this key mechanism. 

PBK Visit 2023

Forge partnerships with local/regional stakeholders.

The MCDE connects a range of stakeholders from the public and private sectors who are working to improve representation in economics and personal finance. By promoting opportunities to network and share across groups, the MCDE works to ensure that Minnesota鈥檚 春雨直播s and teachers have access to the best possible set of resources. 

MCDE Research

Abstract

Women and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) are underrepresented in economics. Among the factors contributing to the underrepresentation of these groups, past research has demonstrated a lack of diversity in introductory economics textbooks. We extend this research on representation to examples in economics lesson plans designed for K-12 audiences. We find that women and BIPOC examples are underrepresented. When present they are less likely to be economists, policymakers, or businesspeople. We also explore how author demographics predict the diversity of examples. Authors and teams that include women are more likely to use female examples.

Abstract

The underrepresentation of minority 春雨直播s and women in economics exceeds that of STEM fields, and while STEM fields have improved representation over time, economics has made less progress. Past research has established that under-represented minority and women 春雨直播s have significantly lower relevance, belonging, and growth mindset (RBG) in predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and co-ed settings (Bayer, Bhanot, Bronchetti, & O鈥機onnell, 2020). Lower RBG is linked to worse grades and lower persistence in economics majors. There has been no research to date on RBG at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) or women鈥檚 colleges, nor on whether these identity-affirming institutions may foster RBG and persistence. This paper investigates RBG's role as a potential barrier or lever for change across different institutional settings. We find that minority 春雨直播s had significantly lower overall RBG ratings, as well as for each dimension of RBG. Female 春雨直播s did not have a significant difference in
overall RBG compared to male/non-binary 春雨直播s. Women did, however, have significantly higher relevance than their counterparts. These differences may be because 春雨直播s at women鈥檚 colleges, which we over-sampled, have significantly higher relevance than co-ed colleges. There is also some evidence that women have lower economics growth mindset, but that women鈥檚 colleges are associated with higher growth mindset in economics. 

Abstract

Female and minority 春雨直播s are underrepresented in economics. This paper uses longitudinal data to explore 春雨直播s鈥 persistence and mindsets towards economics, and how they evolve over time. Analyses compare female and male/non-binary 春雨直播s, as well as minority-identifying and non-minority 春雨直播s, along with the potential role of identity-focused institutions (women鈥檚 colleges and minority-serving institutions) in shaping persistence in economics. Plans to persist in economics diminished over time, although less so for female 春雨直播s than male 春雨直播s and less so for minority 春雨直播s than non-minority 春雨直播s. Women鈥檚 colleges and MSIs did not lead to significantly different changes in persistence. Nor did changes in mindsets predict changes in persistence, although baseline mindset did predict baseline persistence.

 

Abstract

This research describes a "Data Fest" approach that combines big data and social issues with a collaborative and community-engaged event. In this paper, we describe Data Fest and present quantitative and qualitative analyses from three years of pre- and post-surveys of Data Fest events. Changes from pre- to post-survey suggest Data Fest led 春雨直播s to build both economic analysis skills and their sense of relevance, belonging, growth mindset, and confidence. Student narratives illustrate the importance of a fun and supportive environment as well as the accountability to a community stakeholder as motivating their success and progress.

 

CFEM 2023

C-FEM: Cross Generational Female Economist Mentorship Program

An innovative mentorship program that connects female and non-binary/gender non-conforming economists at various stages in the economics education & career pipeline! Mentorship teams consist of members from each of the following groups: High school 春雨直播s, Introductory Economics college 春雨直播s, Economics majors, and Alumni. C-FEM participants will explore different economics topics and career options & will earn a certificate for each subject they master, drawing on their mentorship teams for support along the way.

We focus on recruiting girls/non-binary 春雨直播s and women of color, whose inclusion is desperately lacking in economics.

Interested in Becoming a Mentor or a Mentee? Please email MCDE@stkate.edu

Calyn and Libby CFEM

Mentorship Collaboration Highlight

Libby Kula, Mentor (pictured left), Calyn Schardt, Student (pictured right)

 

MCDE Events

FED Vist 2024

Data Fest

Data Fest is a modeled 鈥淗ack-a-thon鈥 event that invites 春雨直播s from all academic backgrounds to work in groups to answer important socio-economic questions in collaboration with community partners. In past events, we鈥檝e partnered with community organizations such as the Center for Indian Country Development and Ramsey County, using datasets from IPUMS and Opportunity Atlas. This is an opportunity for 春雨直播s to explore analyzing data and a chance to learn more about R and Stata software coding in a hands-on environment with peers.

We hold two separate Data Fest events in February and May, giving participants the opportunity to use more of the skills they have gained in their courses. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome to join us! If you are interested, please look forward to more information coming in February. 

Presentation being held at the Relevance, Belonging and Growth Mindset (RBG) Mini Conference

NSF Funded Research Project - Relevance, Belonging and Growth Mindset (RBG) Mini Conference

A collaborative research team from St. 春雨直播 University and Metropolitan State University hosted a one-day mini-conference presenting and discussing results. The conference included networking, sharing of experiences, and capacity building to encourage future research and teaching collaboration. Anyone interested in the RBG research is encouraged to read the two working papers and download the anonymized data.

Past Events

  • PBK Visiting Scholar: Dr. Trevon Logan Public Lecture, September 18, 2023

 - October 3rd, 2022 

Gender Gaps and Social Norms - September 22nd, 2022

Program Evaluation and Design - April 27th, 2022

- April 21st, 2022

 - April 13th, 2022

Inclusive development, project evaluation, and the connection between micro and macro policies - April 5th, 2022

- March 15th, 2022

Collective Bargaining Rights, Policing, and Civilian Deaths - March 9th, 2022

- March 8th, 2022 

- February 18th, 2022 

The Impact of Equity Premiums on the Completion Outcomes of Minority Students - February 16, 2022

- February 3, 2022

- November 17, 2021

- November 12, 2021

- October 26, 2021

 - October 21, 2021

- June 28, 2021

- May 05, 2021

- April 19, 2021

-  March 03, 2021

- February 05, 2021

 - January 25, 2021

- December 1, 2020

- November 10, 2020

- October 15, 2020

Building Credit as a Muslim American- September 15, 2020

- August 14, 2020

- July 23, 2020

 鈥 June 29, 2020

 鈥 June 11, 2020

 鈥 May 13, 2020

 鈥 April 17, 2020 

More on Diversity in the Field of Economics

K-10 Education

by Silvia Angerer,  Jana Bolvashenkova, Daniela Gl盲tzle-R眉tzler, Philipp Lergetporer, and Matthias Sutter

  • Population of focus: Children
  • Topic: School track choice

" by Sian L. Beilock, Elizabeth A. Gunderson, Gerardo Ramirez, and Susan C. Levine; PNAS, 2010

  • Main takeaway: Math fear is contagious, and math is how many economics courses frame the discipline.
  • Population of focus: women
  • Topic: math anxiety

by Reardon, Sean F., and Claudia Galindo, American Educational Research Journal, 2009

  • Population of focus: Hispanics
  • Topic: Test-score gap

by Craig, Will, and Scott, Tom, University of Minnesota: Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, 2018

  • Population of focus: Black 春雨直播s
  • Topic: Test-score gap

High School

"" by Carycruz Bueno; SSRN, 2020

  • Population of focus: High school 春雨直播s
  • Topic: Virtual schooling

鈥 by Lochner, L., & Moretti, E; American Economic Review, 2004.

  • Population of focus: High school 春雨直播s 
  • Topic: Education and criminal system

 by Dania V. Francis, Angela C. M. de Oliveira, & Dimmitt Carey; The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 2019

  • Population of focus: Black female 春雨直播s
  • Topic: Race & gender bias

 L. Dahlbom, A. Jakobsson, & A. Kotsadam; Applied Economics Letters, 2011

  • Population of focus: Women
  • Topic: Confidence

 Scott Delhommer (Job Market Paper)

  • Population of focus: URM, Hispanic, Asian
  • Topic: Role Model effect on college outcomes

 B. Stevenson & H. Zlotnik; AEA Papers and Proceedings, 2018

  • Population of focus: Women
  • Topic: gender representation

College

""Todd Pugatch, Elizabeth Schroeder; Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), 2020

  • Population of focus: women
  • Topic: Major

Valentina A. Paredes, M. Daniele Paserman, Francisco Pino; NBER Working Paper Series, 2020

  • Population of focus: Women
  • Topic: Sexism

Robert W. Fairlie, Florian Hoffmann, Philip Oreopoulos; NBER Working Paper Series

  • Population of focus: Underrepresented Minorities (URM)
  • Topic: Role model effect

Amanda Bayer, David W. Wilcox; The Journal of Economic Education, 2019

  • Population of focus: URM, gender
  • Topic: Major

春雨直播 Porter and Danila Serra; American Economic Journal, 2019

  • Population of focus: Women
  • Topic: Major

 Amanda Bayer, Syon P. Bhanot, Fernando Lozano; AEA Papers and Proceedings, 2019

  • Population of focus: Women, URM
  • Topic: Information

, Amanda Bayer and Cecilia Elena Rouse; Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2016

  • Population of focus: Women, URM

Graduate School

, Charles L. Betsey; The Review of Black Political Economy, 2019

  • Population of focus: African Americans

 Leah Boustan, Andrew Langan; Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2019

  • Population of focus: Women
  • Topic: Qualitative evidence of women's success

Thomas D. Jeitschko; AEA Papers and Proceedings, 2019

Career

"" William Lazonick, Philip Moss, and Joshua Weitz; Institute for New Economic Thinking, 2020

  • Population of focus: African American
  • Topic: Employment 

"" Lisa Cook and  Jan Gerson; equitable growth, 2019

  • Population of focus: People of color
  • Topics: Economic inequality

"Amanda Bayer, Gary A. Hoover, and Ebonya Washington; Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2020

  • Population of focus: People of color
  • Topics: Academia

Maryann Reid; Forbes

  • Population of focus: Black women
  • Topic: Discrimination, structural violence

 Lisa D. Cook and Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, New York Times

  • Population of focus: Black women
  • Topic: Discrimination

 Alice H. Wu, 2017

  • Population of focus: Women
  • Topic: Stereotyping

 Zarrina H. Juraqulova, Jill J. McCluskey, Ron C. Mittelhammer.; Industrial Relations Journal, 2019

  • Population of focus: Women
  • Topic: Work-life policies

 Najmah Thomas; Journal of Public Affairs Education, 2019

  • Population of focus: African American women
  • Topic: Academia

Price, Gregory N; Journal of Socio-Economics, 2009

  • Population of focus: Black economists

 Anne Boring, Kellie Ottoboni, and Philip B. Stark; Science Open Research, 2016

  • Population of focus: Women
  • Topic: Bias in 春雨直播 surveys, academia

 Gregory N. Price; The Review of Black Political Economy, 2019

  • Population of focus: Black economists
  • Topic: Academia

The LGBTQ Economics Working Group; Newsletter of the American Economic Association

  • Population of focus: LGBTQIA+

 John Cawley; IZA Institute of Labor Economics, 2016

  • Topic: Academia

 Mario L. Small and Devah Pager; The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2020

  • Topic: Racial discrimination, institutional discrimination

 Thomas Carroll, Djeto Assane, and Jared Busker; The Journal of Economic Education, 2014

  • Topic: Salary

 Susan Offutt and Jill McCluskey; Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 2021

  • Population of Focus: Women
  • Topic: Agriculture 

Ver贸nica Amarante, Ronelle Burger, Grieve Chelwa, John Cockburn, Ana Kassouf, Andrew McKay & Julieta Zurbrigg; Applied Economics Letters, 2021

  • Population of Focus: Researchers
  • Topic: Development Studies