Available From UC Press

Queering Economics

Reimagining the Dismal Science

Leanne Roncolato, Michael E. Martell

How queering economics will better serve society.

Despite its tremendous influence, economics is one of the least diverse and most exclusionary social science disciplines. In this book, Michael E. Martell and Leanne Roncolato reveal how economics has created a dangerous hierarchy that deters dissent and marginalizes underrepresented voices. They argue that diversification can benefit the field. By highlighting the voices of LGBTQ+ economists and utilizing qualitative and quantitative data, the authors accompany their call to action with a step-by-step plan for queering economics.

Drawing on critical race, feminist, and queer perspectives and movements, Queering Economics shows how making economics inclusive has multiple tangible benefits. Not only will the field benefit from attracting the best and most diverse talent, but the discipline will better represent the contrasting ways we experience the economy while promoting prosperity and inclusion for all, especially the most vulnerable.

Michael E. Martell is Associate Professor of Economics at Bard College.

Leanne Roncolato is Associate Professor of Economics at Franklin and Marshall College.

"This unique work gives voice to queer economists and provides a way forward for understanding and advocating for the roles of queer economists, and research on queer people, in the field at large."—Martha Olney, Teaching Professor Emerita of Economics, University of California, Berkeley“An urgent call to action. Michael Martell and Leanne Roncolato’s groundbreaking book is required reading for queer economists and queer economics students at every level. Anyone interested in understanding how the dismal science made meaningful progress on queer inclusion—and how much further we have to go—should read this book.”—Christopher S. Carpenter, University Distinguished Professor of Economics, Vanderbilt University"Every economist—and everyone who cares about economics—should read this remarkable and accessible book. Martell and Roncolato persuasively show that economics would be a better social science and our economy would be more inclusive if we had more queer economists."—M. V. Lee Badgett, Chief Economist, Koppa – The LGBTI+ Economic Power Lab

288 pp.5.5 x 8.5Illus: 1 b/w figure

9780520413290$27.95|£24.00Hardcover

May 2026