‘Women in Economics’ Webinar

We were delighted to take part in the Royal Economics Society webinar on ‘Women in Economics’. Year 12 and 13 Economics students were invited to the virtual event, where five female panellists discussed their journeys into economics.

‘Did you know that only 15% of economics professors in the UK are female? Or that the gap between women and men undergraduates and postgraduates has widened since 2002, now standing at 21% and 37% women respectively? 1 in 6 boys opts to study A-level economics, compared to only 1 in 17 girls.’  Royal Economics Society.

Mr Sweetlove, Head of Economics, said, “Each of the five panellists in the hour-long virtual event was female and discussed their journeys into economics, be that through a traditional academic route; A Level, Degree, Masters or PhD; through to a place of work; or a Degree Level Apprenticeship into the Bank of England or with the Government Economic Service. What was most interesting is that this was not gender specific and demonstrated to all participants the varied routes into pursuing economics further. What was also evident was the variety of roles that economists are involved with; one panellist working for Amazon; others as civil servants; one looking at how the environment will impact the economy; and another as a journalist.

I hope our participants found it interesting. It is certainly making me consider more carefully how I communicate what Economics is, and how we should define the subject in the long term to attract not only more women into the subject, but how I broaden the appeal more generally.”