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Susan Averett, Charles A. Dana Professor of Economics, recently contributed to a blog hosted by Oxford University Press about how gender makes a difference in policymaking.
The piece on OUPblog says evidence suggests that greater representation of women in the political arena results in a stronger focus on children’s needs, women’s health, and family policy.
“More women in leadership positions could also mean increased efforts to make the workplace more family-friendly and help reduce the U.S. gender wage gap, which is still 20 percent and shrinking very slowly,” the article says. “A substantial research literature in economics shows that women and men do have different preferences regarding the work environment and how they make decisions.”
Averett authored the piece with Laura M. Argys, professor of economics and associate dean for research and creative activities at University of Colorado, Denver, and Saul D. Hoffman, professor emeritus of economics at University of Delaware and visiting professor of economics at University of Colorado, Denver.