Why Aren't More Economists Doing Research on Sexual Orientation?

Abstract

Few economists work on issues of sexual orientation despite cultural and political changes which have spawned work in other social sciences and the humanities. Barriers to work in this area include discrimination against sexual minorities, the lack of interest and knowledge about sexual orientation, the absence of support for this research, and the scarcity of appropriate models and data. Institutional decision-makers could facilitate research on sexual orientation by creating nondiscriminatory workplaces, valuing and funding the research, and by creating courses in this area.