Dear ECON 203 Students:
So as you learn the ins and outs of how markets work, to take your minds off of shifting supply and demand curves, perhaps it’s appropriate to continue to introduce you to what economists really do: empirical research! Remember, “empiricism” is the third and by far the most important pillar of economics.
Take a look at the piece below that summarizes for the general public results of a study that recently appeared in the Journal of Political Economy, one of the world’s top five economic journals. So what, you say? A top-quality journal is a strong indicator of the validity of the findings. Does that mean they’re always right? Of course not. But we certainly will want to consider the results carefully.
https://review.chicagobooth.edu/economics/2020/article/teamwork-counts-more-men-women
An easy read, right? Okay, so now it’s your turn. Do you agree with the suggested conclusion of this study? If so, why? If not, why not? As your prepare your primary response, you’ll certainly want to keep in mind your own experiences. The more examples the better.
As is our norm, please make your first post by 23.59 on Sunday, November 1, and a minimum of two follow-up posts by the beginning of our Week 3 class. (For a review of what’s expected, see the final paragraphs of the Week 1 prompt.)
Best wishes for an engaging discussion. My guess is that most of you would not think that these kinds of issues are grist for economists. My objective is to disabuse you of that notion.