Professor of Economics Presents Research at United Nations Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Data2X

Dr. Iris Buder, associate professor of economics at Idaho State University, recently presented at United Nations Foundation (UNF), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Data2X on time use research she and her research partner Dr. Odile Mackett, associate professor at the University of South Africa, have been conducting. The research, which delves into the economic and demographic determinants that influence the allocation of time within low- and middle-income countries, is part of the consultant work Buder and Mackett are doing on behalf of the BMGF.

“This has been one of the most eye opening and interesting projects that I have been a part of, as shedding light on the stark gender inequities observed in time use allocation is of utmost importance,” said Buder. “The rich discussions that we had with members of the United Nations, Data2X, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the BMGF, and a number of esteemed academics were truly inspiring and unforgettable.”

Buder’s involvement in the project began in 2021, when she met Mackett for the first time through the Association for Social Economics and recognized researching together could be beneficial given their overlapping interests in the areas of time use allocation, gender economics, and labor economics. In summer 2022, they presented their work at the International Association for Feminist Economics conference in Switzerland, where Mackett made the initial connection with the BMGF.

Buder and Mackett are currently reviewing the feedback they received during their presentations to the UNF and the Development Policy and Finance team at the BMGF. They are also gearing up to commence work on their next report, which will analyze how time use data has been used either directly or indirectly in policy across the world. For this, they will be conducting qualitative work with several leading experts in Kenya and Tanzania by conducting a series of interviews with regards to the landscape of the country, cultural norms and expectations, and the use of time use data. Additionally, they will be conducting fieldwork in both Kenya and Tanzania, where they will be making direct observations with regards to the allocation of time and studying the countries first-hand.

"Dr. Buder's important project with the Gates Foundation reflects the high impact scholarly work that we strive for in the Idaho State University College of Business,” said College of Business Dean and Michael C. Michael C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing Shane Hunt. “We are all very proud of her."