Changes in Women's Representation in Economics: New Data from the AEA Papers and Proceedings

The shortage of women and historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the economics profession has received considerable public attention in the past several years. The American Economic Association (AEA), the professional organization for economists, has been taking steps to address criticism that the economics discipline is unwelcoming to women and underrepresented minorities.

Pre-Analysis Plans: An Early Stocktaking

Pre-analysis plans (PAPs) have been championed as a solution to the problem of research credibility, but without any evidence that PAPs actually bolster the credibility of research. We analyze a representative sample of 195 PAPs registered on the Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP) and American Economic Association (AEA) registration platforms to assess whether PAPs registered in the early days of pre-registration (2011–2016) were sufficiently clear, precise, and comprehensive to achieve their objective of preventing “fishing” and reducing the scope for post-hoc adjustment of research hypotheses. We also analyze a subset of ninety-three PAPs from projects that resulted in publicly available papers to ascertain how faithfully they adhere to their pre-registered specifications and hypotheses. We find significant variation in the extent to which PAPs registered during this period accomplished the goals they were designed to achieve. We discuss these findings in light of both the costs and benefits of pre-registration, showing how our results speak to the various arguments that have been made in support of and against PAPs. We also highlight the norms and institutions that will need to be strengthened to augment the power of PAPs to improve research credibility and to create incentives for researchers to invest in both producing and policing them.

Melissa Dell: Winner of the 2020 Clark Medal

The 2020 John Bates Clark Medal of the American Economic Association was awarded to Melissa Dell, Professor of Economics at Harvard University, for her path-breaking contributions in political economy, economic history, and economic development. This article summarizes Melissa Dell's work, places it in the context of the broader literature, and emphasizes how, with its data collection, careful empirical implementation, and audacious ambition, it has revolutionized work in political economy and economic history.

The National Economic Association at 50: Where Have We Come From and Where Are We Going?

The National Economic Association was founded as the Caucus of Black Economists in 1969. The organization was formed to address the underrepresentation of Black economists in the American Economic Association and in the profession at large. This article reviews key issues raised and how they were addressed. It also makes suggestions for future directions the NEA might take.

Can Mentoring Help Female Assistant Professors in Economics? An Evaluation by Randomized Trial

Women continue to be underrepresented in academic ranks in the economics profession. The Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession of the American Economic Association established the CeMENT mentoring workshop to support women in research careers. The program was designed as a randomized controlled trial. This study evaluates differences between the treatment and control groups in career outcomes. Results indicate that relative to women in the control group, treated women are more likely to stay in academia and more likely to have received tenure in an institution ranked in the top 30 or 50 in economics in the world.