Expert says issues such as student loan debt forgiveness, gender-based pay differentials can benefit from diversity of economists

LAWRENCE — For its history as a science, economics has struggled to recruit both females and underrepresented minorities to the major field of study and the profession.

Josephine Lugovskyy, director for the KU Economics URMW Pipeline Program at the University of Kansas, is available to discuss this concern with media.

“The minimum wage debate, gender-based pay differentials, student loan debt forgiveness — pretty much any topic that currently concerns the economy could benefit from a diversity of viewpoints,” Lugovskyy said.

“Most economic problems are multilayered and have many outcomes that affect different segments of society in different ways. Full representation is the only way to ensure everyone is heard and all points are considered before making designating policy.”

In response, Lugovskyy has implemented a new strategy, which was helped in part by the 2021 American Economic Association’s (AEA) Departmental Seed Grant for Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion that was awarded to the KU Department of Economics.

“Economic theories and policies too often enable the current state of affairs, and not all social groups and classes benefit as much as they can or should,” said Lugovskyy, a KU assistant teaching professor of economics.

“The purpose of the KU Economics URMW Pipeline Program is to reverse that trend and promote diversity and inclusion for all groups to the field, specifically underrepresented minorities — Indigenous, Latinx and African American — and women.”

The Pipeline Program is both a recruitment and academic assistance program designed to encourage underrepresented minorities and women (URMW) to enroll in the accelerated master’s program in economics. It officially launches in the fall 2022 semester but is currently offering a soft launch this semester.

Students in the pipeline will have access to upper-division tutoring services, a specialized academic adviser, workshops geared towards topics of interest for URMW students (such as how to apply for a job after graduation) and mentoring from both URMW faculty and a senior student in the program. The goal is to recruit at least 10 students during its first year.

​“Involvement of diverse viewpoints directly affects policy decisions in the economic arena,” said Lugovskyy, whose research focuses on minority economic issues and wealth inequality. “Current decision-making prioritizes the wants and desires of those in that role. To fully promote equality, all ethnicities, genders and races should be a part of that process.”

To schedule an interview with Lugovskyy, contact KU News Service public affairs officer Jon Niccum at 785-864-7633 or jniccum@ku.edu.