Australia's Trailblazing Women in Economics: A Long History of Pioneering Achievement
Australia has made significant strides in appointing women to key economic positions, but the country still lags behind when it comes to representation of women in economics.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Productivity Commission have recently appointed their first female governors, Danielle Wood and Michele Bullock respectively. However, this milestone is built on a long history of trailblazing women who paved the way for future generations.
Catherine Helen Spence, a writer and reformer, published Australia's first economics textbook in 1880, which remained on the curriculum for 20 years. Marion Phillips became the first Australian woman elected to a national parliament in 1929, entering Britain's House of Commons.
A new book, 'Power in Numbers: Australian Women in Economics', highlights the achievements of 16 women who have made significant contributions to economics in Australia. The authors aim to make these stories visible and inspire younger women to pursue careers in economics.