Susan Averett

Susan Averett is a Professor in the Economics Department, specializing in gender economics and health economics. She joined the faculty in 1991 and teaches courses such as Fundamentals of Econometrics and Women and the Economy. Her research explores intersections between gender, health, and policy, with notable publications in journals like the Review of Economics and Statistics and Journal of Health Economics. A co-author of over 50 scholarly articles and co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Women and the Economy, she also serves as co-editor of Economics and Human Biology.

Dr. Averett holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Colorado and a B.S. in Economics from Colorado State University. Her work frequently addresses topics such as the gender wage gap, childcare tax credits, and immigration policies. Media outlets including the Wall Street Journal and Vox have featured her research findings.

Her research interests include the economic impacts of public policies on health outcomes, labor market dynamics, and social equity. Notable projects have examined the effects of minimum wage laws on immigrant children’s health, the long-term consequences of China’s one-child policy, and the relationship between obesity and labor market performance.

As an educator, she contributes to interdisciplinary programs like Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies via courses such as Gender and Economics. Her textbook Women and the Economy: Family, Work, and Pay remains a foundational resource in the field.