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Comparative Advantage and Gender Gap in STEM

Author

Listed:
  • Sofoklis Goulas
  • Silvia Griselda
  • Rigissa Megalokonomou

Abstract

Why are females, compared with males, both more likely to have strong STEM‐related performance and less likely to enter a STEM field later on? We exploit random classroom assignment to identify the impact of comparative STEM advantage on specialization decisions. Comparative STEM advantage is proxied by the within‐classroom ranking of the ratio of STEM over non‐STEM performance. We find that females with a higher comparative STEM advantage are more likely to choose a STEM school track and apply for a STEM degree. Comparative STEM advantage explains 12 percent of the underrepresentation of qualified females in the earliest instance of STEM specialization.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofoklis Goulas & Silvia Griselda & Rigissa Megalokonomou, 2024. "Comparative Advantage and Gender Gap in STEM," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 59(6), pages 1937-1980.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:59:y:2024:i:6:p:1937-1980
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0320-10781R2
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    File URL: http://jhr.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/59/6/1937
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Elizabeth Dhuey & A. Abigail Payne & Justin Smith, 2025. "The Long-Term Effects of Rank in Elementary School," CESifo Working Paper Series 12227, CESifo.
    2. Goulas, Sofoklis & Megalokonomou, Rigissa, 2020. "School attendance during a pandemic," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    3. Chang, Eunsik & Padilla-Romo, María & Peluffo, Cecilia, 2026. "Persistent Effects of Early Academic Rank on Cognitive and Noncognitive Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 18683, IZA Network @ LISER.
    4. Goulas, Sofoklis & Griselda, Silvia & Megalokonomou, Rigissa, 2023. "Compulsory class attendance versus autonomy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 935-981.
    5. Judith M. Delaney & Paul J. Devereux, 2021. "Gender and Educational Achievement: Stylized Facts and Causal Evidence," Working Papers 202103, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    6. Goulas, Sofoklis & Megalokonomou, Rigissa, 2021. "Knowing who you actually are: The effect of feedback on short- and longer-term outcomes," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 589-615.
    7. Borgonovi, Francesca & Choi, Alvaro & Paccagnella, Marco, 2021. "The evolution of gender gaps in numeracy and literacy between childhood and young adulthood," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    8. Eleni Yitbarek & Nicky Nicholls & Michelle Pleace, "undated". "Do opinions on fair salaries vary with gender in South Africa?," ERSA Working Paper Series v::y:2025:i::id:220, Economic Research Southern Africa.
    9. Rigissa Megalokonomou & Juliana Silva-Goncalves & Roel van Veldhuizen, 2026. "Gender Differences in Self-Promotion and Career Advice," CESifo Working Paper Series 12809, CESifo.
    10. Megalokonomou, Rigissa & Silva-Goncalves, Juliana & van Veldhuizen, Roel, 2025. "Gender Differences in Self-Promotion and Career Advice," Working Papers 2025:11, Lund University, Department of Economics.
    11. Rigissa Megalokonomou & Sofoklis Goulas & Tommaso Sartori, 2025. "All Eyes on the Nerd? The Unequal Distribution of Teachers' Attention," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 25144, ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin).
    12. Delaney, Judith & Devereux, Paul J., 2022. "Rank Effects in Education: What do we know so far?," CEPR Discussion Papers 17090, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    13. ISHIKURA Hideaki & HAYASHI Ryohei & NAKAMURO Makiko, 2026. "The Effect of Classroom Gender Composition on College Enrollment in STEM Fields (Japanese)," Discussion Papers (Japanese) 26019, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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