Course Syllabus
Economics of Gender |
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| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2020 - DIS Stockholm |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
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Major Disciplines: |
Economics, Finance, and Gender Studies |
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Prerequisite(s): |
One microeconomics course at university level |
| Faculty Members: |
Jim Breen |
| Program Director: |
Susanne Goul Hovmand - sgh@dis.dk |
| Time & Place: |
Mondays and Thursdays 13:15 - 14:35 Room: 1D-509 |
Description of Course
Perhaps the greatest socioeconomic phenomenon of the 20th century was the changing role of women across the entire globe. In the early 1900s a women's involvement in the paid economy stopped in her early 20s. At that point most married, had many children, and never again took paid work. One hundred years later that pattern of behaviour is almost unrecognizable in Europe, North America, and indeed most of both the developed and developing world. What happened and why?
Decisions around marriage, children, and work are taken by everyone on the planet. In this class we look at the economic elements that forge those choices. Moreover, while women's roles have changed beyond recognition in a century, we are still plagued with a dramatic under-representation of women in senior economic roles and the fact that they appear underpaid vis a vis men for doing the same work. This course looks at the factors influencing such issues, providing often surprising results.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course students will have:
- Developed an understanding of economic thinking related to a number of issues affecting women and the economy, including, but not limited to:
- marriage
- fertility
- women’s labour force participation
- Understand current policy debates as they relate to women’s employment and earnings.
- Investigate current policies relating to women and evaluate their success and transferability.
- Consider different factors affecting women in the less developed world.
Faculty
The lecturer has been a professional economist working with the UN, governments, private companies, and social organisations for a number of years across Europe and Africa. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California (Santa Cruz and Berkeley) and his postgraduate work at the London School of Economics.
Readings
Required Text:
Saul D. Hoffman & Susan L. Averett, Women and the Economy, 3rd Edition, Palgrave
Required Articles and Other Media on Canvas:
André, C. and H. Bourrousse (2017), “Fighting gender inequality in Sweden”, OECD Economics Department Working Papers, No. 1395,
Belkin, L. (October 26, 2003) “The Opt Out Revolution.” The New York Times
Blau, F and Kahn, L. (January 2013) “Female Labor Supply: Why the US is Falling Behind.” National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper 18702
Blount, S. (March 10, 2017) “Getting More Women in the C-Suite Means Keeping Them in the Talent Pipeline.” Kellogg Insight
Graff, E (April 2007) “The Opt-Out Myth.” Columbia Journalism Review
Kimmel, M. (September 2015) “Why Gender Equality is Good for Everyone.” TED https://www.youtube.com/watch?vRG
Noland, M. et al. (February 2016) “Is Gender Diversity Profitable?: Evidence from a Global Survey.” Peterson Institute for International Economics Working Paper 16-3
Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions. (2016) “Sustainable Gender Equality” https://vimeo.com/77692813
World Economic Forum. (2016) “Closing the Gender Gap” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG
Field Studies
Field Study 1:
29 January (09:30 - 11:00)
Women in Entrepreneurship in Sweden
Upbeater is an organisation that encourages the creation of new business. Sweden in general, and Stockholm in particular has the highest rate of successful business startups outside the Silicon Valley. How are Swedish women faring in the entrepreneurship world? Are their barriers that need to be overcome, and what role does the State take in encouraging this important sector for women. Dress business casual for this event.
Field Study 2:
1 April (12:30 - 16:30)
Scania is the manufacturer of the highest quality heavy goods vehicles in the world (trucks, garbage collectors, busses etc). They are the Rolls Royce of the 18-wheeled world. How is this successful global firm dealing with diversity in its workplace, and why does it see this work as so important to its future? Dress business casual for this event.
Guest Lecturer
Date TBC: Gender Mainstreaming in Sweden
We will be hearing from a representative of Statskontoret, the Swedish government's special policy advisory department, who will lead a discussion of their review of efforts in Sweden to implement gender mainstreaming in the public sector.
Approach to Teaching
We will first seek to provide students with the fundamental economic tools needed to examine gender issues from the perspective of economics as a social science. We will then use these tools to look at how decisions are made in real economies and to examine how different circumstances in Europe vs. the US may generate different economic outcomes.
Each student will generate an individual project that will formally bring together analysis and the student’s own informed views on a particular project/policy area from somewhere in the world.
Expectations of the Students
Students will be expected to actively participate in ‘telling stories’ of how the theoretical models are expected to play out in real life. Each will support and enhance the learning of their fellows in class. Students shall come prepared to each session with their own evaluations of the material, and at times will be required to work in groups. Students will also be required to come to class once during the term with a news article or video that relates to gender issues in the economy. This assignment will count toward class participation.
Note on Attendance:
Class participation is a key aspect of our learning process. As such, any (and each) absence will result in a reduction of your class participation grade by 7.5%. If you have an ongoing medical issue resulting in more than one absence, please speak with your instructor.
Note on Use of Electronic Devices in the Classroom:
Aside from exams, which are in Canvas and must be completed on laptops, computers will only occasionally be used. The use of other electronic devices such as mobile phones is prohibited. Students found using electronic devices for purposes other than intended for the class will receive an “F” for their participation grade. There are 168 hours in any given week: this course will take up only 2.5 of them in class time.
Evaluation
In this class you will be evaluated on how well you can assimilate the tools and ideas presented and then use them to interpret the world around us. To that end it will be essential for students to learn material prior to class. This will enable us to use classroom time not for the acquisition of theory, but rather for using ideas and concepts to analyse and understand contemporary issues.
As part of that process, there will be quizzes set prior to class. These quizzes will count toward a students final grade.
Components of the Course Grade
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Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
Course Summary:
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