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Peer gender and educational choices

Author

Listed:
  • Pål Schøne

    (Institute for Social Research)

  • Kristine von Simson

    (Institute for Social Research)

  • Marte Strøm

    (Institute for Social Research)

Abstract

We use idiosyncratic variation in gender composition across cohorts within Norwegian lower secondary schools to analyze the impact of female peers on students’ educational choices. We find that having more female peers in lower secondary school increases the probability of choosing STEM over language subjects in upper secondary school for both girls and boys. It also increases the probability of choosing a vocational track instead of an academic track. Registry data and survey evidence suggest that potential mechanisms are related to relative performance in STEM subjects, as well as less gender discrimination for girls and increased willingness to compete for boys.

Suggested Citation

  • Pål Schøne & Kristine von Simson & Marte Strøm, 2020. "Peer gender and educational choices," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 59(4), pages 1763-1797, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:59:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s00181-019-01697-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-019-01697-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Judith M. Delaney & Paul J. Devereux, 2022. "Gender Differences in STEM Persistence after Graduation," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 89(356), pages 862-883, October.
    2. Ulf Zölitz & Jan Feld, 2021. "The Effect of Peer Gender on Major Choice in Business School," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(11), pages 6963-6979, November.
    3. Dewan, Prerna & Ray, Tridip & Roy Chaudhuri, Arka & Tater, Kirti, 2024. "Gender peer effects in high schools: Evidence from India," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 470-494.
    4. Monique Löwe & Ulf Rinne & Hendrik Sonnabend, 2023. "Gender role models and early-career decisions," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(11), pages 1526-1530, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gender; Education; Peer effects;
    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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