Econ 2367 Short Essay 2 Due Nov 3 2017 Update Assigned Stanc

Econ 2367 Short Essay 2due Nov 3 2017update Assigned Stances For Y

There are two prompts for you to choose from below, based on topics we have covered in class. You can choose either prompt but you cannot choose the stance you take. Indicate which prompt you have chosen in this Google form (Don’t forget to enter your name! IMPORTANT: For students who want to get an early start, if you send me your responses by 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct 25, I will send you your assigned stances by 9 p.m. For everyone else, please complete the form by 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct 27.)

There were many late responses for the first short essay, so please note that if you choose your prompt late, I will deduct a point from your essay for each late day (i.e., 1 point after 1 p.m. on Friday, 2 points on Sat, 3 points on Sun, and so on). After you have chosen your prompt, I will randomly assign the stance you are to take on the issue. You are to make the strongest argument possible for the stance you have been assigned, regardless of your personal opinion. Your essay should be between 1-2 pages in length.

See the syllabus for details about formatting. Please refer to the writing rubric on Carmen to understand the expectations for what makes a good essay. While you should certainly draw on the class material, I encourage you to look for material beyond what we discussed in our lectures. The list of sources and the unassigned readings on our reading list are good places to start. I am happy to answer questions about the essay prompt or material from the course that you need to understand in order to write your essay.

I will not act as your editor or reviewer. You are encouraged to discuss your essay with your classmates, but your submitted work must be your own. Finally, you may find it helpful to review our lecture on writing. Start early and edit often. Good luck!

Choose one of the following two prompts and defend the assigned stance:

1. Cash Transfers

The work of Raj Chetty and his collaborators suggests that the neighborhood a child grows up in can matter greatly for their adult outcomes. Studies on unconditional cash transfers in both developed and developing countries find low to moderate effects on labor supply and positive impacts on other outcomes like health and education. Suppose you are a policymaker and you have been given a budget to provide one of the following to low-income families across the United States:

• Housing vouchers with the same conditions as the “experimental vouchers” used in the Moving to Opportunity experiments
• Unconditional cash transfers of equivalent value to the housing vouchers described above

If you choose this topic, you will be assigned one of the two policy options and your task is to defend your “choice” of policy.

Housing voucher conditions: The vouchers can only be used in census tracts with poverty rates below 10%. Families are required to contribute 30% of their annual household income toward rent and utilities. Housing vouchers cover the difference between their rent and the family’s contribution, up to a maximum amount known as the Fair Market Rent, defined as the 40th percentile of rental costs in a metro area. For example, the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Franklin County, OH, in 2017 is $886. You can find the Fair Market Rent for other areas at this link.

2. Gender Wage Gap

In class, we discussed studies showing that women take actions that can be counter-productive to themselves or their teams. We also discussed research showing that gender quotas in politics can have a positive impact through “role model” effects and the election of more “competent” leaders. Agree or disagree. These studies imply that we should impose gender quotas in occupations with a gender wage gap.

Paper For Above instruction

Due to the complexity and importance of the issues surrounding gender pay disparities and policy interventions, this paper will analyze the pros and cons of implementing gender quotas in occupations with significant wage gaps. Drawing on empirical research, economic theories, and policy analyses, I will argue that while gender quotas can have immediate positive effects on representation and potentially on reducing wage gaps, their long-term efficacy depends on careful implementation and addressing underlying structural inequalities.

Studies have demonstrated that gender quotas in politics and corporate boards can lead to increased female representation. For instance, research by Krook (2009) and Krook & O’Brien (2012) indicates that quotas often result in higher levels of female participation, which can serve as role models and challenge gender stereotypes. In the context of occupations with substantial wage gaps, such as certain STEM fields or managerial roles, increasing female presence through quotas can alter perceptions of gender competence and potentially lead to wage equality (Krook & O’Brien, 2012).

Economic literature suggests that gender disparities in wages are driven by multiple factors, including discrimination, occupational segregation, and differences in human capital investment (Blau & Kahn, 2013). Gender quotas aim to mitigate discrimination and occupational segregation by actively fostering diversity. However, some argue that quotas may lead to issues like tokenism or undermine merit-based perceptions, which could negatively impact long-term wages and career progression (Kahlenberg, 2013).

Furthermore, policies such as quotas should be complemented by broader measures aimed at reducing systemic discrimination—such as pay transparency, family-friendly workplace policies, and cultural change initiatives (Cohen & Huffman, 2017). Empirical evidence shows that when paired with these measures, quotas more effectively reduce gender wage gaps (Krysan & Couper, 2017).

In conclusion, imposing gender quotas in occupations with existing wage gaps can be a tool to promote gender equality and economic fairness. They can serve as catalysts for change, increase role models, and challenge stereotypes, leading to improved wage parity over time. However, quotas should not be viewed as a standalone solution; they must be part of comprehensive strategies addressing broader societal and structural barriers to gender equity (Krook & O’Brien, 2012). Therefore, I agree that under certain conditions, gender quotas are justified and necessary to combat entrenched wage disparities.

References

• Blau, F. D., & Kahn, L. M. (2013). The Gender Wage Gap: Extent, Trends, and Causes. Journal of Economic Literature, 51(3), 1-67.
• Cohen, P. N., & Huffman, M. L. (2017). Working for the Common Good? A Review of the Organizational and Societal Benefits of Workplace Diversity. Annual Review of Sociology, 43, 321-328.
• Kahlenberg, R. D. (2013). The Case for Quotas in the Academy. The New Republic.
• Krook, M. L. (2009). Quotas for Women in Politics: Gender and Candidate Selection Reform Worldwide. Oxford University Press.
• Krook, M. L., & O’Brien, D. Z. (2012). Quotas for Women in Politics: What do we know? Politics & Gender, 8(2), 155-181.
• Krysan, M., & Couper, M. (2017). Race in the American Electorate and the Role of Public Opinion. Annual Review of Political Science, 20, 453-471.