Ondine
Berland

Understanding individual carbon footprints is central to designing equitable climate policy, yet little is known about gender differences in emissions. We document that women emit 26 percent less than men from food and transport, using detailed consumption data from France. After accounting for socioeconomic characteristics and differences in the scale of consumption, an 8 percent gap remains. Intra-household dynamics influence the magnitude of the gap, especially for transport. Across house- hold arrangements, residual differences are driven by the disproportionate contribution of red meat and car—but not plane—in men’s carbon footprints, two goods that tend to be associated with masculine norms. Our results suggest that climate policies may affect men and women differently.

Higher education students often face significant challenges in maintaining adequate and healthy food consumption due to financial constraints. We evaluate a food-assistance intervention through a randomized controlled trial involving 190 higher education students in the Paris area. Students assigned to treatment received 125euros per month for four months through a mobile payment application accepted in participating food retailers. The program also included workshops and social activities led by a local NGO. After five months of the program, treated students reported lower food insecurity (−11.3 percentage points, (p<0.10)) and more frequent organic food consumption (+39.4 percentage points for consumption at least once a week, p<0.001). We also find better general health (+0.41 points on a 0-10 scale, p<0.1), reduced depression (−0.20 SE, p<0.05), and higher life satisfaction (+0.64 points on a 0-10 scale, p<0.05). Effects are more pronounced among women. Our findings suggest that food assistance for students can yield benefits that extend well beyond dietary outcomes, improving mental health and well-being.

Shocks in energy prices impact households' disposable income and welfare, with consequences for the acceptance of environmental policies. We examine how households adjust food consumption to such shocks by estimating the effects of fuel prices on food purchasing patterns in France. Using homescan data, we find an elasticity of total food expenditure of approximately -0.3, mainly through reductions in the unit value of products. We highlight that households adjust more on unit value for fresh fruits and vegetables, and more on volumes for animal proteins and alcohol. They adjust their purchase patterns by restricting the frequency of shopping trips, visiting hard discount stores, substituting among, and buying in bulk. Low-income households do not adjust significantly to fuel price shocks, likely because they have already largely exploited these adjustment margins. Thus, they are directly affected by any abrupt increase in fuel prices.

This paper reviews the literature on gender inequalities in the academic field of economics, highlighting both the unequal progress women have experienced and the persistent barriers they continue to face. Our analysis of recent literature and available data highlights that the reduction in women's absence in the field has been heterogeneous. While women now constitute 26% of published economists, their presence sharply declines at higher ranks, with only 5% representation among economists in the top percentile of research influence. Notably, recent progress has paradoxically concentrated at this highest level, indicating shifting institutional norms and evolving perceptions about women's contributions. We further explore how understanding women's behaviours and career choices, gender biases in evaluation, and workplace environments contribute to women's underrepresentation in the field. Our discussion extends to the labour market for economists, drawing parallels with broader labour trends, and examining how gender-biased treatment and hiring processes impact women's advancement. Finally, we turn to policy interventions, which are key in promoting gender balance, focusing on networks, mentorship, role models, and representation.