How Women Saved Agricultural Economics
Two AAEA members release research in AEPP
Women brought topics into the mainstream of Agricultural Economics that have allowed the field to increase its relevance for public policy and commercial applications. Many of the topics of papers with a greater percentage of female authors receive above average citations in the AAEA’s leading journals.
In the recently published article “How women saved agricultural economics,” Susan Offutt from DCL Consulting and Jill McCluskey from Washington State University bring to light the contributions of woment to the field of agricultural economics in the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Committee on Women in Agricltural Economics (CWAE), an interest group in AAEA.
Offutt says, “Our findings confirm the benefits of diversity to an academic discipline. Inclusion of people with different backgrounds and experiences brings in new perspectives, increases creativity, and avoids the "group think" that can arise within homogenous groups. The entry of women into agricultural economics, a field long dominated by men, did change its agenda. We would expect inclusion of more Black and Latinx scholars, among other underrepresented groups, would likewise have positive effects on the relevance and quality of research, teaching and extension in agricultural and applied economics.”
If you are interested in setting up an interview, please contact Allison Ware in the AAEA Business Office.
ABOUT AAEA: Established in 1910, the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) is the leading professional association for agricultural and applied economists, with 2,500 members in more than 60 countries. Members of the AAEA work in academic or government institutions as well as in industry and not-for-profit organizations, and engage in a variety of research, teaching, and outreach activities in the areas of agriculture, the environment, food, health, and international development. The AAEA publishes two journals, the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy, as well as the online magazine Choices and the online open access publication series Applied Economics Teaching Resources. To learn more, visit www.aaea.org.
Contact: Allison Ware
Senior Communications Manager
(414) 918-3190
Email: aware@aaea.org