Gender Econ Development

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This course uses the tools of Economics to examine different aspects of women’s lives – education, marriage, family, and the labor market. In particular, we are interested in understanding the persistent gender inequalities that exist in both the developing and the developed world, and seem to pervade all spheres of life. Do women indeed have poorer access to education and health-care, higher mortality rates, lower salaries, a weaker role in household decision-making, and generally inferior life outcomes? What are the potential explanations for such disparities, what are the economic implications, and most importantly, what are the policy interventions that can help mitigate the gender inequality in each context? In exploring these issues, we shall draw on simple theoretical models, experimental designs, and empirical evidence, giving you a flavor of current research in these areas. Besides the textbook, we shall also be reading and discussing several journal articles on each topic. In order to ensure that you are comfortable with interpreting charts, tables and figures, we shall begin with an overview of the economic tools and methodology that you will be encountering for the rest of the course. A brief description of the topics we shall cover follows: 1. Gender and Behavior: Do women and men behave differently in economic situations? 2. Women in the Household: What determines the balance of power? 3. Patriarchy and Patrilocality: Do social and cultural institutions matter for women’s outcomes? 4. Marriage and Divorce: How are marriage market matches formed? Why does the institution of dowry exist? What causes spousal violence, and what are the economic implications of divorce? 5. Fertility and Birth Control: Do women benefit from fertility decline and access to the pill? 6. Women in the Labor Market: Are women discriminated against? 7. Women and the Credit Market: Is female entrepreneurship constrained by unequal access to credit? 8. Women in Politics: What are the effects of women’s suffrage, and how do women fare as policy makers? 9. Gender and Globalization: How does globalization affect women? 10. Empowering Women: What works, and why? Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: School of Foreign Service - Q