Julie Nelson (economist)
Encyclopedia
Julie A. Nelson is a feminist economist
, most known for her application of feminist theory
to questions of the definition of the discipline of economics
, and its models and methodology. Nelson received her Ph.D. degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
.
Beyond Economic Man: Feminist Theory and Economics, a 1993 book Nelson co-edited with Marianne A. Ferber
, has been called a 'landmark' and the 'manifesto' of feminist economics. A follow-up volume, Feminist Economics Today, summarizes the development of the field over the following ten years Nelson is author or co-author of four additional books and numerous academic articles on both feminist theory and the empirical study of household behavior. Her 2006 book Economics for Humans dismisses the view that markets are inexorable "machines" and discusses how a better understanding of the relation of economics and values could improve both business and care work. She argues that the current economic language that refers to the economic "machine" is inherently masculine, focussing on 'detachment, mathematical reasoning, formality and abstration', and suggests that updated language that refers to the economy as, for example, a "beating heart" would better frame discussions about the economy in terms of values. Her most recent work addresses issues of ethics and economics, particularly in relation to climate change.
Nelson was a founding member of the International Association for Feminist Economics and is an Associate Editor of the journal Feminist Economics. Nelson started her career at the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, subsequently became a tenured Associate Professor at the University of California Davis, and then moved to the Boston, Massachusetts area where she is currently on the economics faculty of the University of Massachusetts Boston
and a Senior Research Fellow with the Global Development and Environment Institute
.
Feminist economics
Feminist economics broadly refers to a developing branch of economics that applies feminist lenses to economics. Research under this heading is often interdisciplinary or heterodox...
, most known for her application of feminist theory
Feminist theory
Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical, or philosophical discourse, it aims to understand the nature of gender inequality...
to questions of the definition of the discipline of economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, and its models and methodology. Nelson received her Ph.D. degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
.
Beyond Economic Man: Feminist Theory and Economics, a 1993 book Nelson co-edited with Marianne A. Ferber
Marianne Ferber
Marianne A. Ferber is an American feminist economist and the author of many books and articles on the subject of women’s work, the family, and the construction of gender. She holds a Ph.D...
, has been called a 'landmark' and the 'manifesto' of feminist economics. A follow-up volume, Feminist Economics Today, summarizes the development of the field over the following ten years Nelson is author or co-author of four additional books and numerous academic articles on both feminist theory and the empirical study of household behavior. Her 2006 book Economics for Humans dismisses the view that markets are inexorable "machines" and discusses how a better understanding of the relation of economics and values could improve both business and care work. She argues that the current economic language that refers to the economic "machine" is inherently masculine, focussing on 'detachment, mathematical reasoning, formality and abstration', and suggests that updated language that refers to the economy as, for example, a "beating heart" would better frame discussions about the economy in terms of values. Her most recent work addresses issues of ethics and economics, particularly in relation to climate change.
Nelson was a founding member of the International Association for Feminist Economics and is an Associate Editor of the journal Feminist Economics. Nelson started her career at the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, subsequently became a tenured Associate Professor at the University of California Davis, and then moved to the Boston, Massachusetts area where she is currently on the economics faculty of the University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Boston
The University of Massachusetts Boston, also known as UMass Boston, is an urban public research university and the second largest campus in the five-campus University of Massachusetts system. The university is located on on Harbor Point in the City of Boston, Massachusetts, United States...
and a Senior Research Fellow with the Global Development and Environment Institute
Global Development and Environment Institute
The Global Development And Environment Institute is a research center at Tufts University founded in 1993. GDAE works to promote a better understanding of how societies can pursue their economic and community goals in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner...
.
Selected bibliography
- Economics for Humans. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006.
- Can We Talk? Feminist Economists in Dialogue with Social Theorists, PDF Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 31(4), Summer 2006, 1051-1074.
- Feminist Economics Today: Beyond Economic Man. Co-edited with Marianne A. FerberMarianne FerberMarianne A. Ferber is an American feminist economist and the author of many books and articles on the subject of women’s work, the family, and the construction of gender. She holds a Ph.D...
. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003. - Feminism, Objectivity, and Economics. London: Routledge, 1996.
- Feminism and Economics, Journal of Economic Perspectives 9(2), Spring 1995, pp. 131–148. PDF
- Beyond Economic Man: Feminist Theory and Economics. Co-edited with Marianne A. FerberMarianne FerberMarianne A. Ferber is an American feminist economist and the author of many books and articles on the subject of women’s work, the family, and the construction of gender. She holds a Ph.D...
. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993. - Household Economies of Scale in Consumption: Theory and Evidence, Econometrica 56(6), November 1988, pp. 1301–1314