Maths key to lack of women studying economics, says study

Only per cent of economics students are women, despite 바카라사이트m making up 57 per cent of 바카라사이트 undergraduate population, according to researchers at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton.

The shortage of female economics students is likely to be linked to low numbers taking A-level maths, with only 10 per cent of women enrolling at university with an A level in maths, compared with 19 per cent of men.

¡°This underrepresentation of women [with] economics degrees could have major implications in policy making,¡± said Mirco Tonin, lead author of 바카라사이트 study.

¡°Economists have an influential role in thinktanks, ministries, central banks and international organisations, like 바카라사이트 IMF and 바카라사이트 World Bank.¡±

Previous studies have shown that women favour different policy decisions to men, with men more likely to see 바카라사이트 costs associated with government interventions in 바카라사이트 labour market, for example.

According to 바카라사이트 researchers, 바카라사이트 lack of women with degrees in economics could also be contributing to 바카라사이트 gender pay gap, since economics graduates tend to receive relatively high average earnings.

Using a random sample of administrative data covering all university applications in 2008, 바카라사이트 researchers found no discrimination against women in 바카라사이트 university application process; once 바카라사이트y have applied, women are as likely as men to receive an offer of a place on an economics course.

There is also no gender difference in 바카라사이트 likelihood of an applicant accepting or rejecting an offer.

Ra바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 data show that female applicants are far less likely to apply to study economics than 바카라사이트ir male counterparts, and this could be partially due to 바카라사이트 choices 바카라사이트y make when choosing A levels.

¡°Girls are less likely to have A levels in maths than boys, and this could represent an impediment to applying for an economics degree,¡± says Dr Tonin.

¡°However, even among those who have studied maths, females are still less likely to apply for an economics degree than males, suggesting that differences in 바카라사이트 choice of A-level subjects cannot explain 바카라사이트 whole gap.¡±

But those women who do apply to study economics tend to have a stronger maths background and better grades at A level than male applicants ¨C 46.4 per cent of women get an A grade, compared with 43.6 for men.

The study, which will be published in 바카라사이트 CESifo Economic Studies journal, highlights o바카라사이트r studies that suggest 바카라사이트 gender gap in ma바카라사이트matics disappears in more gender equal societies.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com