Thread by @Noahpinion

Now at a panel on "Transforming the Economics Classroom: Diversity and Inclusion", with Martha Olney presiding.

Yay, @drlisadcook and @SandyDarity are on the panel!!

Question: How can the econ profession attract more diverse undergrads?

Cook: Two big problems are 1) bad advising, and 2) lack of information.

Cook: Bad advisers basically assume that people's potential is fixed. Good advisers encourage people, expose them to new opportunities and new ideas, etc.

Cook: soft bigotry of low expectations is especially pernicious with respect to math.

(Me: YES!!!!)

Darity: To get a more diverse student body we must have a more diverse faculty.

Darity: Prejudice can exist in econ even against groups that aren't underrepresented, like Asians or African immigrants. Asian economists can get pigeonholed as pure technicians who just do math and nothing else.

Olney: Racist student evals are so much worse than you can possibly imagine.

Interesting point. Racist students --> discourage nonwhite faculty --> econ seems like it's just for white people --> racist student body --> rinse, repeat

One idea: show pics of authors on slides to show it's not all just white men

Panel recommends the St. Louis Fed's "Women in Economics" podcast series:

stlouisfed.org/timely-topics/…

Darity: Profs shouldn't be discouraged research on race issues.

*shouldn't be discouraged from doing

Panelists agree that having nonwhite profs is important for white students too.

Olney: Clubs for women and minorities are important for helping undergrad students find community within the econ major

Olney: There's a difference between diversity and inclusion. Asks panelists for ideas to promote inclusion as opposed to mere diversity.

One panelist cites an RCT showing that providing information on how diverse economists are made students feel more included in the major. She also cites an initiative about increasing a sense of belonging and community via mentoring.

Cook: Paying women costs of child care increases the number of women who are willing to come and present at conferences.

Anyway, panel is going to questions and I've got to run to lunch. But very interesting panel!

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