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The asymmetric gender effects of high flyers

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  • Cools, Angela
  • Fernández, Raquel
  • Patacchini, Eleonora

Abstract

Using longitudinal information on a representative sample of U.S. students, we study the effects of exposure to female and male high flyers in high school. We identify a causal effect by exploiting quasi-random variation to peers with highly-educated parents across grades within a school. Greater exposure to male high flyers decreases the likelihood that women obtain a bachelor’s degree, lowers their math and science grades, decreases their LFP and increases fertility. They show lower levels of self-confidence/aspirations. The effects are found for girls with below median ability and for those with at least one college-educated parent. There are no effects of high flyers of either gender on boys.

Suggested Citation

  • Cools, Angela & Fernández, Raquel & Patacchini, Eleonora, 2022. "The asymmetric gender effects of high flyers," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:79:y:2022:i:c:s0927537122001774
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2022.102287
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    3. Marisa Hidalgo-Hidalgo & Dunia López-Pintado, 2023. "The uneven effects of peers on collaborative and individual tasks," Working Papers 23.07, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gender; Education; Cohort study; High flyers; Peers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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