The Underrepresentation of Women in Economics: A Study of the Undergraduate Economics Students

Using Harvard University data, the authors present an analysis of why women are less likely than men to major in economics. Contrary to common wisdom, math background explains only a limited part of the gender difference in students' decisions to major in economics after taking an introductory course. Women do less well in economics courses relative to their other courses, possibly because of differing tastes or information about the nature of economics.