From NHH to a prestigious postdoc in economics
PhD candidate Paula Navarro Sarmiento has secured a postdoctoral position at CEMFI in Madrid, one of Europe’s top research institutes in economics.
More Women in Economics – But Do They Reach the Top?
Women are underrepresented in the field of economics, especially at the professor level. `However, NHH has over 50 percent female PhD candidates. That bodes well for the future,´ says Malin Arve.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), fewer than one in five economics professors in the United States are women, while in Europe, the share of female economics professors is 24 percent.
`This is a challenge because diversity in academia strengthens the quality and relevance of research. The lack of women in top academic positions means that the field of economics is missing out on important perspectives,´says Professor and Vice Rector for Research, Malin Arve.
Significant Progress
Unlike many EU countries and the United States, NHH has a majority of female PhD candidates.
`The proportion of female PhD candidates is over 50 percent, an improvement that has taken place in recent years. This is very positive. NHH still has relatively few female professors—currently at 19 percent—but I am optimistic and believe we will see more women in top positions in the coming years,´ says Arve.
WOMEN IN ACADEMIC POSITIONS ARE OFFERED THE FOLLOWING
- All female postdoctoral researchers and associate professors receive an annual grant of NOK 25,000 for further qualification. This funding is available for up to three years, with the possibility of an extension upon a justified application.
- All women in associate professor positions receive half the required accumulation time for their first two years of research leave.
- All women in academic positions can receive financial support of up to NOK 40,000 per year for participation in recognised conferences, workshops, and similar events.
In the United States, the figures for younger female researchers are more discouraging. A report from the American Economic Association (AEA) last year showed that only 32 percent of economics PhD candidates were women. Among professors at institutions with PhD programmes, just 17.5 percent were women.
The AEA summarised it as follows last year:
This report is disappointing. Despite some signs of progress, the trend over the past two years has been stagnation.
The group was particularly concerned about the declining share of female PhD candidates.
Powerful Measures at NHH
Gender equality and diversity are key components of NHH’s strategy, and in recent years, the school has worked systematically to improve the gender balance among academic staff. The school’s ambition is for each gender to be represented by at least 40 percent in all academic job categories and across all six departments.
`Gender equality is not about representation; it is about strengthening the quality of research. We need diverse perspectives to develop the best knowledge,´ says Arve.
To achieve its goals, NHH has introduced several measures (see facts above):
"This is not a quick fix in a sector where people often remain in the same permanent position for their entire careers. While only 19 percent of our professors are women, I personally have several current and emerita colleagues whom I look up to—not because they are women, but because they are excellent scholars. This bodes well for gender equality at NHH in the years ahead."
Ideal work-life balance for researchers in Norway
Aysil Emirmahmutoglu arrived at NHH five years ago. `In Norway it is possible both to have a family and full-time job´, says the Associate Professor, originally from Turkey.