Planet Money – Planet Money Paper Club

Intro

In this episode of “Planet Money,” the hosts delve into the world of economics papers to uncover fascinating insights about the world. They introduce a new segment called “Econ Paper Club,” where they share and discuss noteworthy economics papers. In this episode, they explore three papers that shed light on gender inequality, career advice discrepancies, and the impact of motherhood on career outcomes.

Main Takeaways

Gender Inequality in External Demands for Parental Involvement

• Experiment tested which fictional parent schools would call back, found that mothers were 40% more likely to receive a call.
• Study shows how external expectations can contribute to gender inequality in the workforce.
• Phone calls from schools often assume mothers should pick up sick children, interrupting workdays.

Career Advice Discrepancies Based on Gender

• Study titled “Informed Choices, Gender Gaps, and Career Advice” examines how gender affects career advice.
• Career advice given to male and female students studying the same thing can differ based on assumptions about gender roles and family responsibilities.
• Changing behavior in advising female students after realizing biases in career advice.

The Impact of Motherhood on Career Outcomes

• Study titled “The Mommy Effect” explores how women anticipate the employment effects of motherhood.
• Women, especially educated women, don’t anticipate the cost of motherhood and the difficulty of balancing work and parenthood.
• Women may rearrange their priorities when they have a family, impacting their labor market earnings for a long time.

Summary

Gender Inequality in External Demands for Parental Involvement

A study conducted an experiment to test which fictional parent schools would call back and found that mothers were 40% more likely to receive a call. This highlights how external expectations can contribute to gender inequality in the workforce. Phone calls from schools often assume that mothers should pick up sick children, interrupting their workdays. While the study focused on two-parent heterosexual households, the implications extend to all kinds of households.

Career Advice Discrepancies Based on Gender

The study titled “Informed Choices, Gender Gaps, and Career Advice” examined how gender affects career advice given to college students. It revealed that career advice given to male and female students studying the same thing can differ based on assumptions about gender roles and family responsibilities. This discrepancy in advice can perpetuate gender inequalities in career outcomes. The study’s findings prompted economist Laura G. and her colleagues to check each other’s advice to ensure it is not biased towards assumptions about gender roles and family responsibilities.

The Impact of Motherhood on Career Outcomes

The study titled “The Mommy Effect” explores how women anticipate the employment effects of motherhood. It reveals that women, especially educated women, often fail to anticipate the cost of motherhood and the difficulty of balancing work and parenthood. This lack of anticipation can lead women to rearrange their priorities when they have a family, impacting their labor market earnings for a long time. The findings highlight the long-term impact of motherhood on women’s career trajectories.

Conclusion

These three economics papers shed light on various aspects of gender inequality in the workforce and the impact of motherhood on career outcomes. They highlight the need to challenge societal expectations and biases that perpetuate gender disparities. By understanding and addressing these issues, we can work towards creating a more equitable and inclusive society.