Work

Comparative Advantage and Gender Gap in STEM

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Why are females, compared with males, both more likely to have strong STEM‐related performance and less likely to enter a STEM field later on? We exploit random classroom assignment to identify the impact of comparative STEM advantage on specialization decisions. Comparative STEM advantage is proxied by the within‐classroom ranking of the ratio of STEM over non‐STEM performance. We find that females with a higher comparative STEM advantage are more likely to choose a STEM school track and apply for a STEM degree. Comparative STEM advantage explains 12 percent of the underrepresentation of qualified females in the earliest instance of STEM specialization.

Source: The Journal of Human Resources

DOI: 10.3368/jhr.0320-10781r2

Authors: Sofoklis Goulas, Silvia Griselda, Rigissa Megalokonomou

Institutions: Hoover Institution, Stanford University, The University of Melbourne, The University of Queensland

Language: English

Topic: Career Development and Diversity

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Gender equality, Quality education

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W3125106929

FWCI: 12.17

Cites: 45

Cited by: 56

Related to: 10