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Pipeline vs. Choice: The Global Gender Gap in STEM Applications

Author

Listed:
  • Isaac Ahimbisibwe

    (Baylor University)

  • Adam Altjmed

    (Stockholm University)

  • Georgy Artemov

    (University of Melbourne)

  • Andres Barrios-Fernandez

    (Universidad de los Andes)

  • Aspasia Bizopoulou

    (VATT Institute for Economic Research)

  • Martti Kaila

    (University of Glasgow)

  • Jin-Tan Liu

    (National Taiwan University)

  • Rigissa Megalokonomou

    (Monash University)

  • JosŽ Montalban

    (Stockholm University)

  • Christopher Neilson

    (Yale University)

  • Jintao Sun

    (Rice University)

  • Sebastian Otero

    (Columbia University)

  • Xiaoyang Ye

    (Amazon)

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 crossnational 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 & Georgy Artemov & Andres Barrios-Fernandez & Aspasia Bizopoulou & Martti Kaila & Jin-Tan Liu & Rigissa Megalokonomou & JosŽ Montalban & Christopher Neilson & Jintao S, 2025. "Pipeline vs. Choice: The Global Gender Gap in STEM Applications," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 2458, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University.
    • Handle: RePEc:cwl:cwldpp:2458
    as

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    File URL: https://cowles.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2025-09/d2458.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Basit Zafar, 2013. "College Major Choice and the Gender Gap," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 48(3), pages 545-595.
    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. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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