IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/eecrev/v185y2026ics0014292126000449.html

Closing the gender STEM interest gap — A randomized-controlled trial in elementary schools

Author

Listed:
  • Grosch, Kerstin
  • Haeckl, Simone
  • Kocher, Martin G.

Abstract

We examine whether a digital web application for elementary-school children can increase children’s interest in STEM, with a focus on closing the gender gap. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) coupled with experimental lab and survey data, we analyze the effect of the digital intervention and shed light on potential behavioral mechanisms. Unlike previous studies focusing on gender differences in STEM abilities, especially in math, this study investigates the gender gap in STEM interests and their determinants and malleability. We demonstrate that girls have lower STEM interests than boys. Our intervention increases girls’ interest in STEM, consequently narrowing the gender gap by approximately 20%. Our findings suggest that STEM interests are indeed malleable and that an easy-to-implement digital intervention can promote gender equality among young children.

Suggested Citation

  • Grosch, Kerstin & Haeckl, Simone & Kocher, Martin G., 2026. "Closing the gender STEM interest gap — A randomized-controlled trial in elementary schools," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:185:y:2026:i:c:s0014292126000449
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2026.105300
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014292126000449
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2026.105300?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • 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

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:185:y:2026:i:c:s0014292126000449. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/eer .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.