女經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家那些事兒

Women and economics

女性與經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)

Market power

市場支配力

How the economics profession should fix its gender problem

經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)專業(yè)應(yīng)如何解決性別問題

At the heart of economics is a belief in the virtues of open competition as a way of using the resources you have in the most efficient way you can. Thanks to the power of that insight, economists routinely tell politicians how to run public policy and business people how to run their firms. Yet when it comes to?its own house, academic economics could do more to observe the standards it applies to the rest of the world. In particular, it recruits too few women. Also, many of those who do work in the profession say they are treated unfairly and that their talents are not fully realized. As a result, economics has fewer good ideas than it should and suffers from a skewed?viewpoint. It is time for the dismal?science to improve its dismal record on gender.

經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)的核心是相信公開競爭的好處，即以最有效的方式利用所擁有的資源。由于擁有這種洞察力，經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家經(jīng)常告訴政客們?nèi)绾喂芾砉舱撸嬖V商人們?nèi)绾喂芾砥涔尽Ｈ欢推渥陨矶裕瑢W(xué)術(shù)經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)需要做更多的事情，以達(dá)到其運(yùn)用于世界其它領(lǐng)域的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。尤其是，學(xué)術(shù)經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)領(lǐng)域招募的女性太少了。此外，許多從事這一行業(yè)的人表示，他們受到了不公正的對(duì)待，他們的才能沒有得到充分的發(fā)揮。因此，經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)提供的好點(diǎn)子比其本來應(yīng)該有的少，而且經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)領(lǐng)域受到了一種扭曲觀點(diǎn)的困擾。是時(shí)候改善這門沉悶的科學(xué)在性別方面的不良記錄了。

For decades relatively few women have participated in stem subjects: science, technology, engineering and maths. Economics belongs in this list. In the United States women make up only one in seven full professors and one in three doctoral candidates. There has been too little improvement in the past 20 years. And a survey by the American Economics Association (AEA) this week shows that many women who do become academic economists are treated badly.

幾十年來，參與主要學(xué)科的女性相對(duì)較少，這些學(xué)科主要包括：科學(xué)、技術(shù)、工程和數(shù)學(xué)。經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)也位列其中。在美國，全職教授只有七分之一是女性，博士研究生只有三分之一是女性。過去二十年也鮮有提升。美國經(jīng)濟(jì)協(xié)會(huì)（AEA）本周的一項(xiàng)調(diào)查顯示，許多女性經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家受到了不公正的對(duì)待。

Only 20% of women who answered the AEA poll said that they are satisfied with the professional climate, compared with 40% of men. Some 48% of females said they have faced discrimination at work because of their sex, compared with 3% of male respondents. Writing about the survey results, Janet Yellen and Ben Bernanke, both former chairs of the Federal Reserve, and Olivier Blanchard, a former chief economist of the IMF, said that “many members of the profession have suffered harassment?and discrimination during their careers, including both overt acts of abuse and more subtle forms of marginalization.”

在接受AEA調(diào)查的女性中，只有20%的人表示對(duì)目前的職業(yè)環(huán)境感到滿意，而男性的這一比例為40%。約48%的女性表示，她們?cè)诠ぷ髦性蛐詣e而受到歧視，而男性受訪者中這一比例僅為3%。美聯(lián)儲(chǔ)前主席珍妮特?耶倫和本?伯南克，以及國際貨幣基金組織前首席經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家奧利維爾?布蘭查德撰寫了有關(guān)調(diào)查結(jié)果的文章，稱“很多女性經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家在其職業(yè)生涯中遭受騷擾和歧視，包括公開的虐待行為和更微妙的邊緣化。”

To deal with its gender shortfall, economics needs two tools that it often uses to analyze and solve problems elsewhere: its ability to crunch?data and its capacity to experiment. Take data first. The AEA study is commendable, but only a fifth of its 45,000 present and past members replied to its poll. More work is needed to establish why women are discouraged from becoming economists, or drop out, or are denied promotion.

為了解決性別差異問題，經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)需要兩種其經(jīng)常用來分析和解決其他領(lǐng)域問題的工具：處理數(shù)據(jù)的能力和實(shí)驗(yàn)?zāi)芰ΑＯ瓤磾?shù)據(jù)。AEA的研究是值得稱贊的，但在其4.5萬名現(xiàn)任和前任成員中，只有五分之一的人回復(fù)了調(diào)查。需要做更多的工作來確定為什么婦女不被鼓勵(lì)成為經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家，或輟學(xué)，或被拒絕升職。

More benchmarking?is needed against other professions where women thrive. Better data are needed to capture how work by female economists is discriminated against. There is some evidence, for example, that they are held to higher standards than men in peer reviews and that they are given less credit for their co-writing than men. And economics needs to study how a lack of women skews its scholarly priorities, creating an intellectual opportunity cost. For instance, do economists obsess more about labor?market conditions for men than for women? The more comprehensive the picture that emerges, the sooner and more easily action can be taken to change recruitment and to reform professional life.

其他女性活躍的職業(yè)需要更多基準(zhǔn)來衡量。研究女性經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家的工作如何受到歧視需要更有力的數(shù)據(jù)來支撐。例如，有一些證據(jù)表明，女性在同行評(píng)審中的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)比男性更高，但在合著方面得到的好評(píng)卻比男性少。經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)需要研究缺乏女性是如何扭曲其學(xué)術(shù)重點(diǎn)，從而造成智力上的機(jī)會(huì)成本。例如，相比女性經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家，男性經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家是否更受勞動(dòng)力市場狀況困擾？數(shù)據(jù)覆蓋的內(nèi)容越全面，改變現(xiàn)有招聘、改革職業(yè)生活就越快，實(shí)行也更容易。

The other priority is for economists to experiment with new ideas, as the AEA is recommending. For a discipline that values dynamism, academic economics is often conservative, sticking with teaching methods, hiring procedures and social conventions that have been around for decades. The AEA survey reveals myriad subtle ways in which those who responded feel uncomfortable. For example 46% of women have not asked a question or presented an idea at conferences for fear of being treated unfairly, compared with 18% of men. Innovation is overdue. Seminars could be organized to ensure that all speakers get a fair chance. Job interviews need not typically happen in hotel rooms, a practice that men regard as harmless but which makes some women uncomfortable. The way that authors’ names are presented on papers could ensure that it is clear who has done the intellectual heavy lifting.

正如AEA建議的那樣，經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家的另一個(gè)處于優(yōu)先級(jí)的任務(wù)是試驗(yàn)新想法。對(duì)于一個(gè)重視活力的學(xué)科來說，學(xué)術(shù)經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)往往是保守的，其堅(jiān)持?jǐn)?shù)十年來的教學(xué)方法、招聘程序和社會(huì)慣例。AEA的調(diào)查揭示了那些做出反應(yīng)的人感到不舒服的無數(shù)微妙方式。例如，46%的女性因?yàn)楹ε率艿讲还酱龆鴽]有在會(huì)議上提出問題或提出想法，而男性的這一比例為18%。早就需要改革了。可以通過舉辦研討會(huì)，確保所有講者獲得公平的機(jī)會(huì)。工作面試也不需要在酒店房間里進(jìn)行，在酒店房間面試這種做法在男性看來是無害的，但會(huì)讓一些女性感到不舒服。論文中呈現(xiàn)作者姓名的方式，可以明確誰是其中完成智力重任的人。

Instead of moving cautiously, the economics profession should do what it is best at: recognize there is a problem, measure it objectively and find solutions. If the result is more women in economics who are treated better, there will be more competition for ideas and a more efficient use of a scarce resource. What economist could possibly object to that?

經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)專業(yè)人士不應(yīng)如此小心翼翼，而應(yīng)做自己最擅長的事情：認(rèn)識(shí)到存在的問題，客觀地衡量問題，并找到解決方案。若結(jié)果讓更多的女性在經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)領(lǐng)域得到更好的待遇，就會(huì)有更多的競爭，就能更有效地利用稀缺資源。哪位經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家會(huì)反對(duì)這一好處呢？

精 讀 解 析

篇章結(jié)構(gòu)：

P1：學(xué)術(shù)經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)領(lǐng)域存在性別歧視

P2-P4：美國經(jīng)濟(jì)協(xié)會(huì)（AEA）的調(diào)查顯示，許多女性經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家受到惡劣對(duì)待。

P5：學(xué)術(shù)經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)中的性別歧視表現(xiàn)

P6：關(guān)于采取一些辦法來解決性別歧視問題的設(shè)想

P7：經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)領(lǐng)域需要認(rèn)識(shí)存在的女性歧視的問題并設(shè)法找到解決方案

重點(diǎn)詞匯：

??when it comes to?當(dāng)涉及到, 當(dāng)談到; 就……而論

【例句】

When it comes to diet and exercise, we know what to do, but we don't do what we know.

當(dāng)提到飲食和運(yùn)動(dòng)的時(shí)候，我們都知道怎么去做，但是我們不會(huì)按照我們知道的去做。

??skew /skju?/?n. 歪斜；斜交adj. 斜交的；歪斜的

【例句】

She skewed around in her chair.

她坐在椅子上歪扭過身來。

Books are skewed and lounge against one another every whichaway.

書歪歪斜斜地一本倚著一本，亂七八糟。

??dismal?/'d?zm(?)l/?adj. 凄涼的，憂郁的；陰沉的，沉悶的；可怕的n. 低落的情緒

【例句】

Sickness or bad luck often makes a person feel dismal.

生病或壞運(yùn)經(jīng)常使人沮喪。

Many economists will find that a dismal prospect.

許多經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家將會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)這是一個(gè)令人沮喪的前景。

??discrimination /d?,skr?m?'ne??(?)n/?n. 歧視；辨別; 辨別力, 識(shí)別力

【同根】

discriminatevt. & vi. 分別, 辨別, 區(qū)分

discriminativeadj.?有判別力的

【短語】

racial discrimination種族歧視

gender discrimination性別歧視

【例句】

Discrimination against women is not allowed.

歧視婦女是不能允許的。

Discrimination on the grounds of sex or race is unlawful.

性別或年齡引起的歧視是違法的。

??harassment?/h?'r?sm?nt/?n.?騷擾, 擾亂

【同根】

harassvt. 使煩惱；使困擾；反復(fù)襲擊

【例句】

sexual harassment is a serious and insidious problem.

性騷擾是一個(gè)惡劣且有潛在惡果的問題。

She often got telephone harassment at night these days.

這些天她經(jīng)常在夜晚受到電話騷擾。

??marginalization n. 邊緣化

【同根】

marginalizevt.?使處于社會(huì)邊緣,使脫離社會(huì)發(fā)展進(jìn)程;忽視,排斥

marginateadj.?有邊緣的

Margin?n. 邊緣

【例句】

Political leaderships should also double its efforts to promote cultural dialogue and to eradicate discrimination and marginalization.

政治領(lǐng)導(dǎo)也應(yīng)當(dāng)加倍努力促進(jìn)文化對(duì)話，根除民族歧視和民族排斥。

??shortfall /'???tf??l/?n.?不足之量,差額

【例句】

There will soon be a shortfall in supply of qualified young people.

合格年輕人才的短缺將很快出現(xiàn)。

they are facing an expected $10 billion shortfall in revenue.

他們?cè)谑杖敕矫婷媾R100億美元的赤字。

??crunch?/kr?n(t)?/n. 咬碎，咬碎聲；扎扎地踏vt. 壓碎；嘎扎嘎扎的咬嚼；扎扎地踏過

【同根】

Crunchy?adj. 易碎的；發(fā)嘎吱嘎吱聲的

【短語】

crunch time關(guān)鍵時(shí)刻；關(guān)鍵時(shí)間

【例句】

The dog was crunching a bone.

狗正嘎吱嘎吱地嚼骨頭。

when it comes to the crunch you chicken out.

一到緊要關(guān)頭，你就退縮。

??commendable /k??mend?bl/?adj.?<正>值得表揚(yáng)的;值得稱贊的

【同根】

Commend?v. 推薦；稱贊；把…委托

【例句】

The government’s action here is highly commendable.

政府這樣的行動(dòng)值得高度贊揚(yáng)。

She is the most admirable and commendable personality.

她是最令人敬佩和值得贊揚(yáng)的個(gè)性。

??drop out?退出, 退學(xué)

【例句】

We should help those who drop out of university because of economic reasons .

我們應(yīng)該幫助那些由于經(jīng)濟(jì)原因從大學(xué)退學(xué)的學(xué)生。

??benchmark /'ben(t)?mɑ?k/n. 基準(zhǔn)；標(biāo)桿

【例句】

we continue to benchmark against the competition.

我們繼續(xù)以這次學(xué)術(shù)活動(dòng)作為衡量標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。

we are benchmarking our performance against external criteria.

我們用外來標(biāo)準(zhǔn)來檢查我們的表現(xiàn)。

??priority?/pra?'?r?t?/?n. 優(yōu)先；優(yōu)先權(quán)；優(yōu)先次序；優(yōu)先考慮的事

【短語】

first priority絕對(duì)優(yōu)先權(quán)；最優(yōu)先

high priority?n. 高優(yōu)先級(jí)

【例句】

The safety of the country takes priority over any other matter.

國家安全占有最重要的地位。

The highest priority of governments has been given to the problem of heavy traffic.

政府已經(jīng)優(yōu)先考慮交通擁擠的問題。

??dynamism /'da?n?m?z(?)m/?n. 物力論；活力；推動(dòng)力；動(dòng)態(tài)；[心理]精神動(dòng)力作用

【同根】

Dynamist?n.?物力論者,力本論者

【例句】

The key is to preserve that natural dynamism while strengthening the effective cooperation between governments.

重點(diǎn)是加強(qiáng)政府間有效合作時(shí)保持自然動(dòng)力。

He was known for his dynamism and strong views.

他以其活力和有力的觀點(diǎn)而聞名。

??myriad /'m?r??d/?adj. 無數(shù)的；種種的n. 無數(shù)，極大數(shù)量；無數(shù)的人或物

【例句】

There are myriad fish in the ocean.

海里有無數(shù)的魚。

The sky was set with myriads of stars.

無數(shù)星星點(diǎn)綴著夜空。

??overdue?/??v?'dju?/?adj. 遲到的；過期的；未兌的

【短語】

be overdue過期

overdue account過期帳，逾期帳

【例句】

She was overdue for some leave.

她早就該休假了。

The plane is overdue and has been delayed by the bad weather.

飛機(jī)晚點(diǎn)了, 被壞天氣耽擱了。

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