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Pipeline vs. choice: the global gender gap in STEM applications

Author

Listed:
  • Isaac Ahimbisibwe
  • Adam Altjmed
  • Gregory Artemov
  • Andrés Barrios Fernández
  • Aspasia Bizopoulou
  • Martti Kaila
  • Jin-Tan Liu
  • Rigissa Megalokonomou
  • Jose Montalban
  • Christopher Neilson
  • Sebastian Otero
  • Jintao Sun
  • Xiaoyang Ye

Abstract

Women account for only 35% of global STEM graduates, a share unchanged for a decade. We use administrative microdata from centralized university admissions in ten systems to deliver the first cross-national decomposition of the STEM gender gap into a pipeline gap (academic preparedness) and a choice gap (first-choice field conditional on eligibility). In deferred-acceptance platforms where eligibility is score-based, we isolate preferences from access. The pipeline gap varies widely, from -19 to +31 percentage points across education systems. By contrast, the choice gap is remarkably stable: high-scoring women are 25 percentage points less likely than men to rank STEM first.

Suggested Citation

  • Isaac Ahimbisibwe & Adam Altjmed & Gregory Artemov & Andrés Barrios Fernández & Aspasia Bizopoulou & Martti Kaila & Jin-Tan Liu & Rigissa Megalokonomou & Jose Montalban & Christopher Neilson & Sebasti, 2025. "Pipeline vs. choice: the global gender gap in STEM applications," CEP Discussion Papers dp2120, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp2120
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Matthew Wiswall & Basit Zafar, 2018. "Preference for the Workplace, Investment in Human Capital, and Gender," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 133(1), pages 457-507.
    2. Esteban Aucejo & Jonathan James, 2021. "The Path to College Education: The Role of Math and Verbal Skills," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(10), pages 2905-2946.
    3. Roland G. Fryer & Steven D. Levitt, 2010. "An Empirical Analysis of the Gender Gap in Mathematics," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 2(2), pages 210-240, April.
    4. Basit Zafar, 2013. "College Major Choice and the Gender Gap," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 48(3), pages 545-595.
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