Seema Jayachandran is is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Northwestern University. Her work focuses on economic issues in developing countries. Her work explores the determinants of children’s health and education; the environment; gender equality; labor markets; and political economy. She is a recipient of a Sloan Research Fellowship and a National Science Foundation Early Career Development grant. She serves as a reviewing editor for Science, co-editor for the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, and associate editor for the Quarterly Journal of Economics and Journal of Economic Perspectives. She is an affiliate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and a board member and chair of the Gender Sector for the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab. Seema earned her PhD from Harvard University.
This talk will provide an overview of how well economic factors can explain patterns of gender inequality in the world, as well as the role of cultural norms in perpetuating gender gaps. I will then focus in on India and the ways in which its gender inequality is particularly severe. One such way is the pronounced favoritism towards sons in India. I will discuss implications of son preference and some potential solutions aimed at expanding opportunities for women and girls.
The Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC) launched its lecture series in April 2005 to bring distinguished academics to the Bank to present and discuss new knowledge on development. The purpose of the Lecture Series is to introduce ideas on cutting edge research, challenge and contribute to the Bank's intellectual climate, and reexamine current development theories and practices. The Lectures revisit issues of long-standing concern and explore emerging issues that promise to be central to future development discourse. The Lecture Series reflects DEC’s commitment to intellectual leadership and openness in embracing future challenges to reduce poverty.
The DEC Lecture Series is chaired by Shanta Devarajan, Senior Director, Development Economics, and includes a presentation and floor discussion.
Please visit DEC Lecture Series to access additional information about this event series as well as presentation materials from past talks.