Rare Voices in Economics (RViE)

We founded the Rare Voices in Economics initiative in the fall of 2019 first under the name of Women in Economics Léman. Since then, PhD students, postdocs, and professors from the Graduate Institute, the University of Geneva, the University of Lausanne, and EPFL have been gathering to discuss and engage with issues related to diversity and inclusion in the economics profession. Guided by academic research as well as personal reflection, we organically came up with a strategy that aims to break self-perpetuating inequalities. This task is not straightforward and our approach fluidly adapts to evolving insights and views. On the one hand, we recognize the importance of bringing diversity into the profession. However, so long as these acts remain performative, they are not going to change the fundamental problem. We need to change the environment such that diversity is not merely a tolerated feature of our professional spaces, but a desired one. Further, we need the space to be open and welcoming to diversity, such that all voices can perform at their best. Visit our website here.