Economics and Diversity (Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy Book 145)

The bulk of contemporary economics assumes rather than explains differences between people or groups of people. Yet, many of these differences are produced by society or they imply differing opportunities and outcomes. This book argues that economists should concern themselves with the explanation of the social causes and effects of such differences. D’Ippoliti introduces the concept of diversity to summarise all differences that are of social origin and that a theory or model seeks to explain. This contrasts with the traditional concept of heterogeneity that instead refers to differences that are deemed to be exogenous of economic theory. In approaching this, the book ranges from the fields of methodology and history of economics to applied empirical work, as well as gender diversity which is considered in depth. The analysis of the thinking of two major economists of the past, John Stuart Mill and Gustav Schmoller, demonstrates how gender diversity exemplifies some of the fundamental issues in economics, such as the division of labour, society’s capacity to reproduce itself, and the role of social institutions and their impact on individual and collective behaviour. The book maintains that growth of GDP and of the services sector cannot be trusted to automatically bring about greater inclusion of women in the labour market. Active policy interventions are needed, spanning from the removal of discrimination to the provision of public services and the establishment of fair competition in the market, along with an improved division of social and political power between the sexes. This work will be of interest to researchers and students focusing on the history of economic thought, labour economics, social policy and gender studies. Title......Page 12 Copyright......Page 13 Contents......Page 16 Preface......Page 18 Acknowledgments......Page 21 Introduction......Page 24 Part I: There is difference in difference: Diversity and heterogeneity......Page 34 1 The night in which all cows are black?......Page 36 2 Lessons from the past......Page 54 Part II: Difference, behavior and aggregative analysis......Page 74 3 Social sciences and the act of classification......Page 76 4 Individual and aggregate behavior......Page 90 5 Consequences for economic theory and method......Page 114 Part III: On gender diversity......Page 134 6 Gender diversity as inequality......Page 136 7 Schmoller on the origin of gender inequality......Page 142 8 Mill and the liberal stance......Page 154 9 The state, the market, and gender......Page 167 Part IV: An application: Gender diversity in the labor market......Page 178 10 Gender, diversity and heterogeneity in the labor market......Page 180 11 How gender may help in understanding the labor market......Page 184 12 How economics may help in understanding gender......Page 197 13 Analysis of men’s and women’s employment......Page 216 Conclusions: Difference or indifference?......Page 230 Appendix......Page 234 Notes......Page 238 Bibliography......Page 253 Index......Page 267 Title 12 Copyright 13 Contents 16 Preface 18 Acknowledgments 21 Introduction 24 Part I: There is difference in difference: Diversity and heterogeneity 34 1 The night in which all cows are black? 36 2 Lessons from the past 54 Part II: Difference, behavior and aggregative analysis 74 3 Social sciences and the act of classification 76 4 Individual and aggregate behavior 90 5 Consequences for economic theory and method 114 Part III: On gender diversity 134 6 Gender diversity as inequality 136 7 Schmoller on the origin of gender inequality 142 8 Mill and the liberal stance 154 9 The state, the market, and gender 167 Part IV: An application: Gender diversity in the labor market 178 10 Gender, diversity and heterogeneity in the labor market 180 11 How gender may help in understanding the labor market 184 12 How economics may help in understanding gender 197 13 Analysis of men’s and women’s employment 216 Conclusions: Difference or indifference? 230 Appendix 234 Notes 238 Bibliography 253 Index 267 9780415600279,(hbk),978-0-203-81597-7,(ebk) Economics, Finance, Business & Industry Taylor & Francis Routledge The bulk of contemporary economics assumes rather than explains differences between people or groups of people. Yet, many of these differences are produced by society or they imply differing opportunities and outcomes. This book argues that economists should concern themselves with the explanation of the social causes and effects of such differences. D' Ippoliti introduces the concept of diversity to summarise all differences that are of social origin and that a theory or model seeks to explain. This contrasts with ..