Diversity and Economics - what do the data tell us?

Dr Arun Advani discussed his latest research examining the study of race and ethnicity-related issues in economics with David Hume Institute Director, Susan Murray and Mairi Spowage, Interim Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute.

Arun is Assistant Professor in the Economics Department and Impact Director of the CAGE Research Centre at the University of Warwick. Arun is also a Research Fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies and a Visiting Fellow at the International Inequalities Institute.

Arun studies issues of inequality, tax compliance, and tax design, with a focus on those with high incomes or wealth. He also works on issues of environmental taxation, economic development, migration, and tax in low- and middle-income countries.

Arun is co-chair of the Discover Economics campaign, aiming to increase the diversity of people who study and work in economics. He is also on the Editorial Board of the Economics Observatory.

Mairi is a former Senior Statistician in the Scottish Government and was Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Fiscal Commission between 2016 and 2018. She has been Deputy Director of the Fraser of Allander since 2019 as well as leading the Scottish Funding Council's Economic Futures initiative.

How does economics compare to other social sciences and, what does this research means for the future teaching of economics and our understanding of the economy? Are publications biassed or are economists just focussed on other things?