For this project, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of gender distribution in top 20 Economics PhD programs in the United States. Our research focused on examining potential gender inequality through multiple lenses: candidate demographics, placement outcomes, and university rankings. We collected extensive data on PhD candidates, including their gender, placement outcomes, and institutional affiliations.
Our findings reveal that while there is a clear gender gap in Economics PhD programs (approximately 66% male to 34% female), this disparity appears to originate at the undergraduate level rather than within the PhD programs themselves. The analysis shows no significant differences in placement outcomes between male and female candidates, and the gender distribution remains consistent across university rankings. This suggests that the challenge lies not in addressing discrimination within PhD programs, but in understanding and addressing why fewer women choose to pursue economics in their early academic careers.
Through detailed statistical analysis and data visualization, we demonstrate that once women enter PhD programs, they experience similar opportunities and outcomes across all institutional tiers, indicating that the primary focus for addressing gender inequality should be on earlier stages of the academic pipeline.