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Gender Gaps in Academic Careers Evidence from Economics in Argentina

Author

Listed:
  • María Edo

    (Universidad de San Andrés and CONICET)

  • Mariana Marchionni

    (CEDLAS-IIE-FCE-UNLP and CONICET)

  • María Florencia Pinto

    (CEDLAS-IIE-FCE-UNLP)

  • Mariana Viollaz

    (CEDLAS-IIE-FCE-UNLP and IZA)

Abstract

This paper provides the first comprehensive analysis of gender disparities in academic economics in Argentina, and one of the few systematic studies on this topic in developing countries. Using newly collected and harmonized data from administrative records, university sources, web scraping, and ad-hoc surveys, we document women’s representation across stages of economics education and academic careers. We identify a leaky pipeline: a small gender gap at the undergraduate level widens in later stages, including research activity, faculty positions, publications, rankings, and leadership roles. Exploring potential drivers—such as academic performance, aspirations, exposure to role models, coauthorship, networking, funding, service—we find that women and men exhibit similar performance and comparable aspirations to pursue academic careers, yet their trajectories diverge. Although descriptive, our results suggest that gender disparities are unlikely to reflect differences in ability or preferences, and instead arise from a complex interaction of structural conditions and individual choices.

Suggested Citation

  • María Edo & Mariana Marchionni & María Florencia Pinto & Mariana Viollaz, 2025. "Gender Gaps in Academic Careers Evidence from Economics in Argentina," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0355, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    • Handle: RePEc:dls:wpaper:0355
    as

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    File URL: http://www.cedlas.econo.unlp.edu.ar/wp/wp-content/uploads/doc_cedlas355.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David Card & Stefano DellaVigna & Patricia Funk & Nagore Iriberri, 2020. "Are Referees and Editors in Economics Gender Neutral?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 135(1), pages 269-327.
    2. Giulia Zacchia, 2021. "What Does It Take to Be Top Women Economists? An Analysis Using Rankings in RePEc," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(2), pages 170-193, April.
    3. Anusha Chari & Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham, 2017. "Gender Representation in Economics Across Topics and Time: Evidence from the NBER Summer Institute," NBER Working Papers 23953, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Anusha Chari & Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham, 2017. "Gender representation in economics across topics and time: evidence from the NBER," Staff Reports 825, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • A20 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - General

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