“Missing” Women in Economics Academia in India

Abstract

Existing literature has established that a diverse workforce is more creative and productive, with academia being no exception. Research on gender diversity in academia, especially economics academia so far has focused on the developed world. This article examines gender diversity in economics academia in India by analyzing the share of women in faculty positions, journal publications, and participation in a conference held annually since 2004. Unlike some developed countries, women students actually constitute the majority at the Master’s level in India. Yet, evidence suggests that women’s presence in economics academia is less than one-third in all three dimensions. Through interviews and further data analysis, the study explores factors that impinge on women’s presence in economics academia. It concludes with specific suggestions on what Indian institutions can do to ensure that women not only join and survive, but also thrive in academia. HIGHLIGHTS In India, only one-third of faculty, conference participants, and published researchers in economics are women. The drop in the representation of women occurs mainly at the doctoral and faculty levels. Norms around marriage age and desire for financial freedom affect women’s pursuit of doctoral programs. Biases in recruitment and the “two-body” problem impact women’s presence in faculty positions. Indian institutions must invest in faculty mentoring, promotion transparency, and childcare availability to foster academic success of students and faculty.