Data and Code for: Demographic Diversity and Economic Research: Fields of Specialization and Research on Race, Ethnicity, and Inequality

We use 3 decades (1991-2021) of the EconLit dissertation database to investigate the link between race/ethnicity of economic dissertation authors and research subjects. These more comprehensive data allow us to more conclusively link racial/ethnic background to economic research because dissertations are solo-authored and arguably represent the broadest possible population of economists. Our results suggest that economists differ on research topics in ways that appear related to race/ethnicity, but in perhaps unexpected ways. We also find an increase in dissertations on racial topics and inequality over time, but limited evidence that Ph.D. economists from URM groups are more likely to research racial topics once Ph.D. cohort year is held constant. Women Ph.D. economists are also more likely to write dissertations on inequality.