Numerous studies have highlighted the existence of gender disparities in various dimensions of men?s and women?s scientific careers. The question is whether these gaps result from individual choices or from various factors that may limit their opportunities. This study aims to explore one such factor-specifically, access to grants. Success in obtaining grants is frequently a pivotal condition for career advancement within the scientific community. Despite the extensive body of research, few studies focus on post-communist countries, which exhibit unique dynamics in the perception of gender equality. This article analyses gender differences in grant applications submitted to the SGA, the largest grant agency in Slovakia, specifically within the field of economics. This field presents a compelling area for research, particularly given that, in contrast to many other countries, there is a majority of women within this field. The findings reveal that the most significant discrepancies occur during the application phase, where the number of women applying for these grant resources is lower than anticipated. In the evaluation phase, while the success rate for women is marginally higher than that of their male counterparts, women ultimately receive slightly lower evaluation scores when other relevant factors are considered. Furthermore, in the grant implementation phase, teams led by women demonstrate a slightly higher performance in terms of scientific output compared to teams led by men. These results suggest some hidden forms of gender biases.
Némethová et al. (Wed,) studied this question.