Why are women significantly under-represented in the economics profession? Does the problem reflect sexism in the profession, a lack of women studying economics or some other factor? And, if it primarily reflects a lack of women studying economics in the first instance, why do so few women study the subject? Last, but not least, what can we do to address the issue?
At this event, hosted jointly with the Resolution Foundation and chaired by Catherine Connolly, we ask four leading economists – Gemma Tetlow, Andrew Haldane, Sarah Smith and Jenny Bates – to speak about their work on Women in Economics, including how they see the challenge and their efforts to address it.
This event is open to all, both SPE and non-SPE members alike. In order to attend you will need to register with the SPE office. If you wish to attend, please email admin@spe.org.uk
Gemma Tetlow has spent her career working in economics, largely focussing on UK public policy. She is currently Chief Economist at the Institute for Government, having previously spent two years as economics correspondent for the Financial Times. Her final article for the FT asked “Where are all the female economists?” – and should we care? She remains bemused by the fact that so many women in the UK seem to be put off taking the subject from a very young age – but hopeful that other countries, which achieve much greater gender balance in economics, might have something to teach the UK.
Andrew Haldane is the Chief Economist at the Bank of England. He is a member of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee and Chair of the Government’s Industrial Strategy Council. Andrew has spoken extensively about the need to improve diversity in economics, finance and indeed at the Bank of England itself, including gender diversity. In an interview for the BBC’s Newsnight in 2018, he said the Bank of England needed to do better and was ‘on the case’ when it came to improving the number of senior positions held by women at the Bank. Andrew is the founder of ‘Pro Bono Economics’, a charity which brokers economists into charitable projects, and a Trustee of National Numeracy.
Sarah Smith is Professor of Economics at the University of Bristol and the current Head of Department. She is also Chair of the Royal Economic Society Women’s Committee. The Committee’s role is to promote the status of women in economics, conducting regular surveys of academic departments, organising mentoring for junior faculty and, increasingly, engaging in outreach activities to promote economics to a more diverse audience.
Jenny Bates is Director, EU Exit and Economic Partnerships in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Jenny is a member of the Government Economic Service (GES) and is co-leading a new initiative to improve gender diversity in the economics profession in government. Prior to joining what was then BIS, Jenny was Head of Secretariat for the Smith Commission on devolution of further powers to Scotland and spent twelve years in HM Treasury and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Before joining the UK civil service, Jenny worked for the Progressive Policy Institute in Washington DC and the National Farmers Union in London.
The meeting will be held at Resolution Foundation, 2 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, SW1H 9AA. The event starts with networking drinks from 5.30pm. The presentations will start at 6pm.
We are grateful to Resolution Foundation for kindly hosting this event.