Course Syllabus

 

Economics of Gender

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Woman Building.jpgWomen in Stockmarket.jpg

Semester & Location:

Spring 2022 - DIS Stockholm

Type & Credits:

Elective Course - 3 credits

Major Disciplines:

Economics, Finance, and Gender Studies
Faculty Members:

John Gustavson

john.gustavsson@disstockholm.se

Program Director:

Susanne Goul Hovmand - sgh@dis.dk

Academic support:

academics@disstockholm.se

Time & Place:

Mondays and Thursdays 13:15 - 14:35

Room: 1E-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:

  1. 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 labor force participation
  2. Understand current policy debates as they relate to women’s employment and earnings.
  3. Investigate current policies relating to women and evaluate their success and transferability.
  4. Consider different factors affecting women in the less developed world.

 

Faculty

PhD in Economics from Maynooth University, 2020. Conducted research on nudging and other topics within behavioral economics. Previously worked as a policy adviser in the European Parliament. Experience working with the FEMM committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in the European Parliament. With DIS since 2021.

 

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

Please see the Course calendar

 

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.

 

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.

 

Grading

1. Class Participation

This component covers active participation in class, performance in small assignments, feedback and questions on fellow students presentations (see #5 below) and during field studies. Participation is not to be confused with mere attendance during the semester. A qualitative judgment of your contribution will be made by the instructor, and improper use of computers in class can for instance affect this assessment.

20%

2. Pre-Class Quizzes

Prior to most classes, there will be an on-line quiz covering the reading/viewing/listening homework.

20%

3. Midterm Examination

There will be a midterm exam with questions in the readings from the first half of the term. Any material covered in Classes 1 through 9 is fair game. It is a closed-book exam.

15%

4. Final Examination

This exam is similar to the first exam, but covers all material from the entire course. Any material covered in any lecture is fair game. It is a closed-book exam.

20%

5. Final Presentation

Students will make an individual, 5 minute presentation on a gender project they would like to implement somewhere in the world.  The presentation will be followed by a 5 minute Q&A session. The presentation will outline the objectives of the policy, its underlying assumptions, and its theoretical underpinning as it relates to course material.

25%

 

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.

 

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic RegulationsLinks to an external site. on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on: 

 DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.orgLinks to an external site.

 

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due