THE INTERNATIONAL WORKING GROUP ON GENDER, MACROECONOMICS AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS

(GEM- IWG)

Knowledge Networking Program on Engendering Macroeconomics and International Economics

Intensive Summer Course: June 3-18, 2004

Conference: June 20-22, 2004

Hosted by the Department of Economics University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

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GEM- IWG, is an international network of thirty five economists that was formed in 1994 for the purpose of promoting research, teaching, policy making and advocacy on gender equitable approaches to macroeconomics, international economics and globalization. This new program, launched by GEM- IWG, with support from the Ford Foundation, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs, Division for the Advancement of Women has two objectives: first, to engage with fellow economists in order to enhance capacity building in research, teaching, policy making and advocacy in this area; second, to increase knowledge networking on these themes by strengthening the intellectual links among practitioners in networks working on similar issues.

The program is intended for economists, including advanced graduate students in economics, as well as more experienced academics, researchers and those in government. Up to thirty fellows will be admitted to the program. Full funding will be provided for up to twenty five fellows. Priority will be given to applicants from the global South* and transition economies. The fellows of the program will be required, at a minimum, to have completed two years of study in an economics Ph.D. program and have passed their qualifying exams, or have its equivalent such as a master's degree in economics. These requirements may be waived only under exceptional circumstances. The program will be conducted in English. Final selection criteria will include the objective of achieving gender balance and regional balance in the composition of fellows.

Applications must be received by January 15, 2004 and will be processed in the order received. Please see below for application requirements and application forms.

The program coordinators are Rania Antonopoulos (New York University and Levy Economics Institute), Nilufer Cagatay (University of Utah), Diane Elson (University of Essex), Maria Floro (Vassar College and Levy Economics Institute).

The program instructors are expected to include, among others, in alphabetical order: (In alphabetical order, participation subject to confirmation) Charles Abugre (University of Wales and Integrated Social Development Centre, Ghana), Bola Akanji (Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research), Lourdes Beneria (Cornell University), Gunseli Berik(University of Utah), Elissa Braunstein ( University of Massachusetts, Amherst), Gerald Epstein (University of Massachusetts, Amherst), Korkut Erturk (University of Utah), Jayati Ghosh (Jawaharlal Nehru University) Caren Grown (International Centre for Research on Women), Hande Keklik (University of Utah), Mumtaz Keklik (UNDP, Nepal), Alfred Latigo (UN Economic Commission for Africa), Stephanie Seguino (University of Vermont), Rosalba Todaro ( University of Santiago), Mariama Williams (Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era and International Gender and Trade Network).

*Applicants from the global South include individuals who are temporarily residing in the North, in so far as they are pursuing an academic degree.

THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM

The immediate aim of the program is to bring together economists from around the world that share a recognition of the importance of gender-equitable approaches to macroeconomics, international economics and globalization so as to assist them in :

• gaining knowledge and familiarity with existing formulations of gender-aware questions, research tools and methodologies in macroeconomics and international economics;

• enhancing capabilities in integrating gender analysis in teaching macroeconomics, international trade, international finance or economic development

• formulating gender-aware questions in research, teaching, policy making and advocacy in this area

• fostering a network among the participants

• strengthening the intellectual links of the participants to other knowledge-networks engaged with similar issues

• enhancing their capability in connecting and networking in general with other practitioners, scholars and activists

At the end of the program we expect that the fellows will have the tools to:

• conduct gender-aware economic research;

• contribute to the formulation of gender-equitable macroeconomic policies and international economics policies at the national, regional and international levels;

• give analytical support to CSOs in their advocacy efforts to promote gender equality. The ultimate objective of this program is to help the participating fellows form and sustain their own networks of research, teaching and activism within their own countries, among regions and globally.

COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM

The fellows are expected to complete the full program which consists of the following three components:

1) The Self-study Module will introduce the fellows to basic concepts of feminist economics and to basic concepts of feminist approaches to macroeconomics and international economics. It will also include broader critical analyses of the world economy and its institutions. Those participating in the course will be expected to have completed the self-study module. Completion of the self- study module will ensure that all the fellows start from a common knowledge baseline and that they will have had a chance to do the readings before participating in the two- week course. The self-study materials will be made available to all participants by April 1, 2004.

2) The Intensive Summer Course, which will take place June 3-18, 2004 at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah will address the problems posed by the self-study component at a more advanced level. It will consist of presentations by the instructors, discussion sessions and presentations by the fellows. The process will be participatory. The fellows will have an opportunity to meet with the instructors individually to discuss their research or teaching projects. A subset of the instructors will be available to act as mentors and interested fellows will be assigned a mentor during the program.

Fellows will be encouraged to work on a specific short piece of work of interest to them during the course. Topics might include a research proposal, ideas for curriculum development, a policy briefing or a book review.

The basic modules of the course will include the following:

Introduction to Gender-Aware Economics and Methods of Analysis

Gender and Macroeconomics

Growth, Inequalities, Development and Poverty

Gender and International Trade

Gender, Finance and Investment

Gender and Labor

3) The Conference on "Engendering Macroeconomics and International Economics" will take place in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah on June 20-22, 2004 following the completion of the two-week course. The fellows are expected to attend the conference, which will be open to all who wish to participate (up to 60 people). Further information on the costs of participation, logistics, accommodations and registration will be available at the program website www.genderandmacro.org. The conference program will be available by May 15, 2004.

COST OF ATTENDANCE AND FUNDING

Up to twenty fellows will be funded, with priority given to those from the South and transition economies. There are no tuition charges for the program. For the fellows who are funded by the program, the following will be provided: economy round trip air travel, accommodation on campus during the course and the conference, meals during the course and the conference, course materials and conference materials. Fellows who are self-funded need to cover the costs of their travel, accommodation (expected to be around 1,000 USD for a single room or 500 USD for a shared room); meals (expected to be around 1000 USD); course materials (150 USD) and conference registration fees (50 USD).

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants to this program should submit the following documents by January 15, 2004:

a) A completed application form.

b) A Curriculum Vitae

c) A personal statement which should include a description of the applicant's background and current work in economics, interest and/or background in gender studies, background and /or interest in macroeconomics, background and/or interest in international economics, motivation for taking the course, how s/he plans to use the knowledge gained in the program, and how s/he expects to contribute to the course and more generally to knowledge networking in the future. This statement should not exceed 750 words.

d) A letter of recommendation from someone who is familiar with their work in economics In addition, a hard copy of the letter of recommendation

e) For those whose main language of instruction during their education was not English, some proof of English proficiency test (e.g., TOEFL) will be preferable, but other proof may be accepted (e.g. a sample of written work in English).

f) For applicants who are currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program or who have obtained a Ph.D or M.A. degree in the last two years, a copy of their transcripts in the Ph.D. or the M.A. program

Items a - d ( the application form, C.V. , personal statement and the recommendation letter) should be sent preferably by email to: genderandmacro@lists.csbs.utah.edu. In addition, a hard copy of the letter of recommendation, and items e - f ( proof of English proficiency and transcripts in cases which are relevant ) should be faxed or mailed to :

Ms. Ginger Alewine: Summer Course Administrative Officer 801-585-5649 ( fax )

University Of Utah 
Department Of Economics 
1645 Campus Center Dr. Rm 308 
Salt Lake City UT 84112-9300, U.S.A.

Those who are having difficulty with electronic mail can submit all documents by regular mail (but not by fax) to the same address.

Questions about the program can be directed to: genderandmacro@lists.csbs.utah.edu.