Gender Gaps in Economics: New Research Spotlights Women's Progress in South African Universities

New research from the International Economic Association's Women in Leadership in Economics initiative has shed light on persistent gender disparities in the economics profession across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This comprehensive study, coordinated by experts including Fiona Tregenna from the University of Johannesburg, compiles data from six countries—Argentina, Colombia, Ghana, India, Mexico, and South Africa—revealing a complex picture of women's representation in economics academia. While challenges remain universal, South Africa stands out as a regional leader, with female faculty comprising 42 percent of economics departments in public universities as of 2022. This progress offers valuable lessons for higher education institutions nationwide, highlighting both achievements and areas needing targeted intervention.

The analysis draws on national databases, institutional records, and web-scraped data to trace the academic pipeline from undergraduate enrolment to senior professorships and research output. In South Africa, public higher education data from the Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS) across 26 universities provides a robust foundation. Female dominance at entry levels has not fully translated to top tiers, yet trends indicate accelerating equity, particularly when viewed through the lens of historical data from 2012 onward.

The Academic Pipeline: From Students to Scholars

The journey through economics higher education begins with undergraduate programmes, where women have achieved and surpassed parity in South Africa. By 2022, female students accounted for 54 percent of total economics enrolments, rising from near parity a decade earlier. This shift reflects broader enrolment patterns, with women comprising 56 percent of undergraduate graduates in fields classified under economics, business, and management studies using the Classification of Educational Subject Matter (CESM) code 0404.

Honours and master's levels mirror this trend, with female shares reaching 50 percent or more in enrolments and graduations. For instance, master's graduations showed exact parity in recent years. However, the pipeline narrows at the doctoral stage. Female PhD enrolment stood at 41 percent in 2022, up from 31 percent in 2012—a 150 percent increase in absolute numbers—while graduation rates lagged at 37 percent. Conversion rates from master's to PhD have converged to around 40 percent for both genders, signaling potential parity within years if momentum continues.

These figures aggregate data from traditional universities (TUs), universities of technology (UoTs), comprehensive universities (CUs), and the University of South Africa (UNISA). UNISA, for example, saw female staff shares climb from 37 percent to 59 percent, demonstrating institution-specific successes.

Faculty Representation: Gains at Senior Levels

Turning to staff, South African economics departments employ 952 full-time equivalents (FTEs) in economics as of 2022, up from 621 in 2012. Women hold 42 percent of these positions, a modest rise from 38 percent, driven by a 75 percent expansion in female FTEs versus 40 percent for males. Parity prevails at entry-level lecturer roles (50 percent female), but disparities widen upward.

Professorships mark the starkest gap: females rose from 11 percent in 2012 to 31 percent in 2022, tripling in number while male professors declined slightly. The gender professorship gap shrank from 13.6 to 4.7 percentage points, with 74 percent now explained by observables like age, qualifications, and experience via Oaxaca-Blinder decompositions. Women advance at equal or faster rates once in post, underscoring the value of retention strategies.

Institutions vary: traditional universities like the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Stellenbosch University lead in absolute numbers, while UoTs show slower progress. PhD qualification rates among staff also differ—40 percent for females versus 60 percent for males in 2022—partly attributable to age demographics, as female staff skew younger.

Research Productivity and Publication Trends

Beyond headcounts, research output reveals subtler imbalances. Female authorship in South African economics publications remains stable at 25-33 percent, per SAKnowledgebase (subsidy-earning outputs) and Scopus data from 2012-2022. Females publish fewer articles per author (1.39 vs. 1.68 for males in 2022), but citations per article are comparable, hinting at a quality-over-quantity dynamic.

Productivity per FTE improved for women (from 41 percent to 55 percent of male ratios), yet lags overall. Females collaborate more with junior scholars and have higher co-authors per paper, fostering mentorship networks. For deeper insights, the full IEA South Africa report details these metrics here.

Intersecting Inequalities: Race and Institution Type

Gender gaps intersect with race, compounding challenges. Black students (including Coloured and Indian) show higher female representation (58 percent enrolment), yet Black academics lag in PhD attainment and professorships. White males advance earliest to full professor (age 31 on average), followed by other groups with 4-5 year delays for Black females.

Decompositions reveal unexplained gaps: White males hold professorship advantages beyond observables, particularly versus Black academics. Institutionally, TUs host more senior roles, while UNISA excels in female growth. Agricultural economics subfields buck trends with male dominance, reflecting rural-urban divides.

Photo by Natalie Hua on Unsplash

A Decade of Progress: Key Trends 2012-2022

• Female undergraduate enrolments flipped to majority post-2013, stabilizing above 50 percent.
• PhD female numbers surged 150 percent, narrowing gaps.
• Staff female share rose modestly to 42 percent, with lecturer parity achieved.
• Professors: Female share tripled to 31 percent; gap halved.
• Research: Female authorship steady; productivity converging.

Overall enrolments dipped slightly (19,648 to 17,717 students), but graduations grew (3,129 to 3,994), with females at 57 percent. These shifts position South Africa ahead of peers like Ghana (16 percent faculty) but trail full equity.

Spotlight on South African Universities

Leading institutions drive change. UCT's Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) authored key analyses, while Stellenbosch University's Research on Socio-Economic Policy (RESEP) tracks equity. The University of Johannesburg, home to project coordinator Fiona Tregenna, exemplifies integration of gender data into policy. Wits University and UNISA report above-average female shares, bolstered by mentorship programmes.

Challenges persist: younger female staff face heavier teaching loads, potentially stalling research. Yet, role models like Professor Ingrid Woolard (UCT) and Professor Rulof Burger (Stellenbosch) inspire pipelines. For pipeline visuals, see the UNU-MERIT summary here.

Regional Context: South Africa vs. Global South

Compared to peers, South Africa's 42 percent female faculty exceeds Colombia (26 percent), India (35 percent), Mexico (34 percent), and Ghana (16 percent). PhD enrolment (41 percent) trails India's near-50 percent but leads Ghana's 18 percent. Senior ranks show SA's 31 percent professors competitive with Argentina (27.7 percent) and ahead of the US (18.3 percent). VoxDev's overview underscores SA's rapid senior gains here.

Pipeline leaks vary: Colombia's post-UG drop contrasts SA's steady flow. SA's progress stems from expanded access post-apartheid, though racial legacies linger.

Initiatives Driving Change in SA Higher Education

Universities implement mentorship, bias training, and flexible policies. The IEA-WE project advocates data-driven monitoring via HEMIS. UCT's Women in Economics seminar series and Stellenbosch's equity workshops build networks. Government targets via National Development Plan emphasise STEM gender parity, with NSFAS aiding female retention.

Implications for South African Universities

Diverse economics faculties enhance research relevance, addressing SA's inequalities. Closing gaps boosts innovation, policy impact, and student outcomes. With women half the population, equity aligns with transformation goals.

Photo by Teo Zac on Unsplash

Future Outlook and Actionable Steps

Projections suggest professorial parity by 2040 if trends hold. Recommendations: bolster PhD funding for women, reduce administrative burdens, promote collaborations, track intersections. Universities should prioritise these for inclusive economics higher education.