Work

Intended college major choice and the inheritance of majors

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Using Italian data, we study whether their intended choice of college major is affected by the college major selected by family members. We find evidence of strong inter-generational persistence, especially in medicine and health professions, followed by economics and law, and STEM. The effects are strongest for parents and less sizeable for older siblings. No effect is found for grandparents.

Source: Economics Letters

DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112558

Authors: Giorgio Brunello, Francesco Campo, Elisabetta Lodigiani, Martina Miotto, Lorenzo Rocco

Institution: University of Padua

Language: English

Topic: Intergenerational and Educational Inequality Studies

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,030

Funders: European Commission, FP7 People