Economics of Gender in Education and Labor Markets

Content

All over the world, we observe different economic outcomes for men and women.
This course uses economic theory and analysis in order to explain these differences in outcomes focusing on educational attainment, career choices, and earnings. We will examine the role of gender differences in abilities, preferences (career vs. staying at home, but also for competition), and discrimination in explaining these differences. We will also examine how the choices women make (like marriage and child rearing), medical advancement (the birth control pill), and policies by firms affect these outcomes. Lastly, we will discuss what roles firms, educational institutions, and governments could have in achieving gender equality today.