Joel Waldfogel

This is Today Explained. My name is Joel Waldfogel, and I'm a professor at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. I also have a connection with the economics department here.

This is Today Explained. My name is Joel Waldfogel, and I'm a professor at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. I also have a connection with the economics department here.

This is Today Explained. My name is Joel Waldfogel, and I'm a professor at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. I also have a connection with the economics department here.

I'm not a big fiction reader.

I'm not a big fiction reader.

I'm not a big fiction reader.

Well, I have been in my life. I have been, of course, in my life. I did a big project after I finished college. I decided I really wanted to read through the important pieces of American literature. So I have been a big reader. But lately, I consume other forms of creative output. Let's put it that way. That's an economist way to say it.

Well, I have been in my life. I have been, of course, in my life. I did a big project after I finished college. I decided I really wanted to read through the important pieces of American literature. So I have been a big reader. But lately, I consume other forms of creative output. Let's put it that way. That's an economist way to say it.

Well, I have been in my life. I have been, of course, in my life. I did a big project after I finished college. I decided I really wanted to read through the important pieces of American literature. So I have been a big reader. But lately, I consume other forms of creative output. Let's put it that way. That's an economist way to say it.

You know, that's true. I'm enjoying the fruits of the digital renaissance. That's how I would put it.

You know, that's true. I'm enjoying the fruits of the digital renaissance. That's how I would put it.

You know, that's true. I'm enjoying the fruits of the digital renaissance. That's how I would put it.

Yeah, sure. I spent some time at the copyright office as the Kamenstein fellow there. And one of the things they were interested in was what's happened to the share of copyrights that have been granted to women. And so I was looking at that and how it's really grown substantially over time. One of the big categories of copyrights, the one that people are most familiar with, is books.

Yeah, sure. I spent some time at the copyright office as the Kamenstein fellow there. And one of the things they were interested in was what's happened to the share of copyrights that have been granted to women. And so I was looking at that and how it's really grown substantially over time. One of the big categories of copyrights, the one that people are most familiar with, is books.

Yeah, sure. I spent some time at the copyright office as the Kamenstein fellow there. And one of the things they were interested in was what's happened to the share of copyrights that have been granted to women. And so I was looking at that and how it's really grown substantially over time. One of the big categories of copyrights, the one that people are most familiar with, is books.

And it's remarkable just how the share of copyrights granted to females has risen from really low numbers, if you go back 50 years, to more than 50%. It really passed 50% about five years ago. And that's an unusual kind of statistic, because when you look at other creative or innovative areas, you just don't see that level of balance, that level of female participation relative to male.

And it's remarkable just how the share of copyrights granted to females has risen from really low numbers, if you go back 50 years, to more than 50%. It really passed 50% about five years ago. And that's an unusual kind of statistic, because when you look at other creative or innovative areas, you just don't see that level of balance, that level of female participation relative to male.

And it's remarkable just how the share of copyrights granted to females has risen from really low numbers, if you go back 50 years, to more than 50%. It really passed 50% about five years ago. And that's an unusual kind of statistic, because when you look at other creative or innovative areas, you just don't see that level of balance, that level of female participation relative to male.

I can go back to the early 19th century. I can look at the card catalog of the Library of Congress, biggest library in the world. And by looking at the names of authors, I can infer the gender of authors. And back in 1800, about 5% of the books published who were written by women. And it rose very slowly over the 19th century. By 1900, it was still something like 10%.

I can go back to the early 19th century. I can look at the card catalog of the Library of Congress, biggest library in the world. And by looking at the names of authors, I can infer the gender of authors. And back in 1800, about 5% of the books published who were written by women. And it rose very slowly over the 19th century. By 1900, it was still something like 10%.