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Gender Norms and the Gender Gap in Higher Education

Author

Listed:
  • Stefanie J. Huber

    (Department of Economics, University of Bonn and ECONtribute, Germany and Department of Economics, University of Amsterdam and Tinbergen Institute, The Netherlands)

  • Hannah Paule-Paludkiewicz

    (Deutsche Bundesbank, Frankfurt, Germany)

Abstract

Cross-country differences in the gender gap of higher education attainment are large. In this paper, we study the role of gender norms for this particular gender gap. To isolate the effect of gender norms from institutional and economic factors, we investigate the decisions of second-generation immigrants in the United States to achieve at least a bachelor’s degree. We measure gender norms using economic outcomes as well as beliefs prevailing in the migrants’ parents’ country of origin. We find that gender norms explain part of the observed differences in the gender gap in attaining at least a bachelor’s degree. There is also a sizable effect of gender norms on gender gaps in higher educational attainment levels, such as a master’s degree or a PhD. We confirm the gender norms effect using a sample of siblings, which allows us to hold unobservable and observable household characteristics constant.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefanie J. Huber & Hannah Paule-Paludkiewicz, 2023. "Gender Norms and the Gender Gap in Higher Education," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 253, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:253
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender gap; tertiary education; gender norms; culture; second-generation migrants; sibling fixed effects;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • 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
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General

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