Equitable Growth to welcome visiting scholars as part of two American Economic Association summer programs

The Washington Center for Equitable Growth is excited to welcome three scholars and students who will join the organization this summer through programs offered by the American Economic Association.

As part of the American Economic Association Summer Economics Fellowship program, Afrouz Jahromi, an assistant professor at Widener University, will join Equitable Growth as a scholar in residence for 12 weeks. Jahromi’s research interests lie in labor economics and microeconometrics. During her fellowship, she will pursue her research investigating the effects of having children on U.S. women’s income—in particular, looking at why the earnings divide between mothers and childless women is growing even as the pay gap between women and men shrinks.

This is Equitable Growth’s second year as a participating research institution with the AEA Summer Economics Fellowship program. As a host, we provide the selected scholar with a stipend, research and career mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources and training to engage with press and policymakers. Throughout the summer, scholars engage in a research project of their choice, which they then have the opportunity to present to members of our academic network for feedback and advice. We also help the fellow to identify research and career mentors.

The program is designed to increase the participation and advancement of women and people from underrepresented communities in economics by supporting postdoctoral scholars and junior faculty. Equitable Growth, through a competitive process, selects a scholar whose research explores how inequality affects economic growth and stability. The summer program is an opportunity for these early career scholars to access leading academics and policymakers to advance and elevate their research to a wider audience, receive critical input on their work, and strengthen their academic network.

Equitable Growth also will host two undergraduate students through the AEA Summer Training program: Ayesha Choudhery from Central Connecticut State University and Haroldo Nesbeth from Trinity College. During their 2 months with Equitable Growth, they will sharpen their research skills by examining literature and conducting quantitative analysis that advances Equitable Growth’s mission.

As an “experiential learning” host, Equitable Growth will introduce Choudhery and Nesbeth to professional work outside of academia for Ph.D. economists, build their quantitative skills, and provide mentorship and real-world experience to the students while they earn credits toward their undergraduate degrees. Students receive training on editing, writing, and networking, as well as the chance to meet thought leaders and other high-profile economists in our academic network.

Currently hosted at Howard University, participants in the training also undertake intensive coursework in microeconomics, math, econometrics, and research methods in order to prepare for graduate and doctoral programs in economics or a related discipline. The program is targeted to students of color and aims to increase diversity in economics and related fields. In fact, according to the AEA website, as many as 20 percent of students of color who received Ph.Ds. in the past 20 years participated in this program.

Equitable Growth is honored to participate in these two important summer programs offered by the American Economic Association that seek to diversify economics and the social sciences. Both are a continuation of our broader efforts to foster new pathways for students and scholars in the economics profession, as well as support organizations that steadfastly work to cultivate racial, ethnic, and gender diversity in academia. We look forward to welcoming Jahromi, Choudhery, and Nesbeth, and working with them to elevate their research, support their academic progress, and advance our mission to lift up historically marginalized voices.