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Female Economists Tend to Favor Bigger Government
#1

Female Economists Tend to Favor Bigger Government

From LessWrong:

Here is the article they are referring to.

Quote:Quote:

A new study shows a large gender gap on economic policy among the nation's professional economists, a divide similar -- and in some cases bigger -- than the gender divide found in the general public.

What does an economist think of that?

A lot depends on whether the economist is a man or a woman. A new study shows a large gender gap on economic policy among the nation's professional economists, a divide similar -- and in some cases bigger -- than the gender divide found in the general public.

Differences extend to core professional beliefs -- such as the effect of minimum wage laws -- not just matters of political opinion.

Female economists tend to favor a bigger role for government while male economists have greater faith in business and the marketplace. Is the U.S. economy excessively regulated? Sixty-five percent of female economists said "no" -- 24 percentage points higher than male economists.

Can this be reasonably explained by self-interest? Female and male economists' views are probably coloured by gender solidarity. Government jobs may be more likeable to women than men because of their recorded greater risk aversion. Regardless of the reason government jobs are more important for women than for men. Also in the US where the study was done middle class white women benefit quit a bit from affirmative action in government hiring.

"As a group, we are pro-market," says Ann Mari May, co-author of the study and a University of Nebraska economist. "But women are more likely to accept government regulation and involvement in economic activity than our male colleagues."

Opinion differences between men and women are well-documented in the general public. President Obama leads Mitt Romney by 10 percentage points among women. Romney leads Obama by 3 percentage points among men, according to the latest Gallup Poll.

Politics is the mind-killer probably does play a role in explaining the difference.

The survey of 400 economists is one of the first to examine whether gender differences matter within a profession. The answer for economists: Yes.

How economists think:

Health insurance. Female economists thought employers should be required to provide health insurance for full-time workers: 40% in favor to 37% against, with the rest offering no opinion. By contrast, men were strongly against the idea: 21% in favor and 52% against.
Education. Females narrowly opposed taxpayer-funded vouchers that parents could use for tuition at a public or private school of their choice. Male economists love the idea: 61% to 14%.
Labor standards. Females believe 48% to 33% that trade policy should be linked to labor standards in foreign counties. Males disagreed: 60% to 23%.
First two points are somewhat congruent with stereotypes. Anyone who has run into the frequent iSteve commenter "Whiskey" will probably note that the third point indicates women may not hate hate HATE lower and middle class beta males in this case.

"It's very puzzling," says free-market economist Veronique de Rugy of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. "Not a day goes by that I don't ask myself why there are so few women economists on the free-market side."

A native of France, de Rugy supported government intervention early in her life but changed her mind after studying economics. "We want many of the same things as liberals -- less poverty, more health care -- but have radically different ideas on how to achieve it."

This seems plausible since politics is about applause lights after all, the tribes are what matters not the particular shape of their attire. But might value differences still be behind the gender difference? Maybe some failed utopias I recall reading aren't really failed.

Liberal economist Dean Baker, co-founder of the Center for Economic Policy and Research, says male economists have been on the inside of the profession, confirming each other's anti-regulation views. Women, as outsiders, "are more likely to think independently or at least see people outside of the economics profession as forming their peer group," he says.

The gender balance in economics is changing. One-third of economics doctorates now go to women. The chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers has been a woman three of 27 times since 1946 -- one advising Obama and two advising Bill Clinton. The Federal Reserve Board of Governors has three women, bringing the total to eight of 90 members since 1914.

"More diversity is needed at the table when public policy is discussed," May says.

Somehow I think this does not include ideological diversity.

Economists do agree on some things. Female economists agree with men that Europe has too much regulation and that Walmart is good for society. Male economists agree with their female colleagues that military spending is too high.

The genders are most divorced from each other on the question of equality for women. Male economists overwhelmingly think the wage gap between men and women is largely the result of individuals' skills, experience and voluntary choices. Female economists overwhelmingly disagree by a margin of 4-to-1.

The biggest disagreement: 76% of women say faculty opportunities in economics favor men. Male economists point the opposite way: 80% say women are favored or the process is neutral.

No mystery here. (^_^)

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#2

Female Economists Tend to Favor Bigger Government

Of course they do. They stand to benefit by using government as a means to extract more money from productive men for the feel good bullshit they're tricked into supporting by politicians

They don't really tend to think deeply or long-term about the consequences of the policies they advocate, though, and when the ship starts inevitably sinking they look to men to bail their asses out.

Giving them the right to vote was one of the dumbest things ever.

The female vote plus a combination of white knights, apathetic people, and scumbag politicians (redundant) is why we are in the situation we find ourselves in today.

"Men willingly believe what they wish." - Julius Caesar, De Bello Gallico, Book III, Ch. 18
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#3

Female Economists Tend to Favor Bigger Government

I remember there being many women just like this when the Bolsheviks were taking power away from the Tsars. I remember there being many Eastern European women among the iron curtain who were just like the women of today. Most of them ended up shot or forced into gulags.
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#4

Female Economists Tend to Favor Bigger Government

Quote: (09-15-2014 01:55 PM)Old Fritz Wrote:  

I remember there being many women just like this when the Bolsheviks were taking power away from the Tsars. I remember there being many Eastern European women among the iron curtain who were just like the women of today. Most of them ended up shot or forced into gulags.

You're very old indeed, Old Fritz.
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#5

Female Economists Tend to Favor Bigger Government

This was surprising to me - the magnitude of the difference.

Just as interesting is that this has only been studied now. I guarantee you, if I had been a professional economist, I'd have quickly noticed this disparity from discussions and readings of male and female economists. I'd expect the same of forum members here as well. It's a testament to how blinkered economists are - they fancy themselves hyper-rational as they are supremely unaware of the people within their own ranks.

Also, Dean Baker is a funny choice for a voice of big government. He is certainly a liberal, but he is the rare liberal that understands and vociferously advocates for free market policies. He has a great book on it, The End of Loser Liberalism.
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#6

Female Economists Tend to Favor Bigger Government

Wow. I think this is an excellent example of freakonomics.
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#7

Female Economists Tend to Favor Bigger Government

Quote: (09-15-2014 06:58 PM)The Father Wrote:  

Quote: (09-15-2014 01:55 PM)Old Fritz Wrote:  

I remember there being many women just like this when the Bolsheviks were taking power away from the Tsars. I remember there being many Eastern European women among the iron curtain who were just like the women of today. Most of them ended up shot or forced into gulags.

You're very old indeed, Old Fritz.

Yesterday I ran into Old Fritz, and he asked me "How is the war with Germany going?"

And I said, "The war with Germany has been over for many years, Old Fritz!"

And he replied, "Oh...what did they do with the Kaiser?"
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#8

Female Economists Tend to Favor Bigger Government

They're just securing their jobs for the future, without big government, there would be no female economists.

"A stripper last night brought up "Rich Dad Poor Dad" when I mentioned, "Think and Grow Rich""
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#9

Female Economists Tend to Favor Bigger Government

Quote:Quote:

Male economists overwhelmingly think the wage gap between men and women is largely the result of individuals' skills, experience and voluntary choices. Female economists overwhelmingly disagree by a margin of 4-to-1.

I am at a loss for words.

This is like a doctor looking at an ultrasound of a developing baby and claiming that the picture is blank.

"Imagine" by HCE | Hitler reacts to Battle of Montreal | An alternative use for squid that has never crossed your mind before
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#10

Female Economists Tend to Favor Bigger Government

Quote: (09-15-2014 01:55 PM)Old Fritz Wrote:  

I remember there being many women just like this when the Bolsheviks were taking power away from the Tsars. I remember there being many Eastern European women among the iron curtain who were just like the women of today. Most of them ended up shot or forced into gulags.

Are you in your 90s Fritz? I don't think its possible for one to remember the Russian revolution. Those people have to at least be in their 100s+
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