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Gender differences in applying for STEM programs in higher education: evidence from a policy shift in Hungary

Author

Listed:
  • Koen Declercq

    (IRES, UCLouvain, FNRS, and LEER, KU Leuven)

  • Joris Ghysels

    (Maastricht University and VDAB)

  • Julia Varga

    (Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Hungarian Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

We study how admission policies in higher education affect enrollment decisions of men and women and the decision to apply to STEM programs. More specifically, we investigate how an increase in the relative acceptance probability for STEM programs affects these decisions. We apply our analysis to Hungary and we evaluate a policy reform that limited access to subsidized non-STEM programs. We find that this change in the selectivity of the admission system differently affected application decisions of men and women. After the reform, fewer students applied to higher education and the reform especially discouraged the participation of women. After the reform, more men and women applied to STEM programs or non-subsidized non-STEM programs in which they have to pay tuition fees. This last effect is stronger for women. As the reform affected the chance to be admitted to higher education, we estimate a structural model to analyze how the responsiveness to admission probabilities in application decisions differs between men and women. We find that women are more sensitive to admission probabilities. Finally, we use the model to simulate the impact of alternative admission policies on enrollment in STEM programs. We find that an open access policy in STEM programs would stimulate more men and women to apply to these programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Koen Declercq & Joris Ghysels & Julia Varga, 2018. "Gender differences in applying for STEM programs in higher education: evidence from a policy shift in Hungary," Budapest Working Papers on the Labour Market 1806, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:has:bworkp:1806
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    Cited by:

    1. Meier, Dennis H. & Thomsen, Stephan L. & Trunzer, Johannes, 2022. "The Financial Situation of Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-696, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    higher education; admission; gender differences; STEM; structural model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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