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Competitive Schools and the Gender Gap in the Choice of Field of Study

Author

Listed:
  • Fanny Landaud

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Son Thierry Ly

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Eric Maurin

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

Abstract

In most developed countries, students have to choose a major field of study during high school. This is an important decision as it largely determines subsequent educational and occupational choices. Using French data, this paper reveals that enrollment at a more selective high school, with higher-achieving peers, has no impact on boys, but a strong impact on girls' choices: they turn away from scientific fields and settle for less competitive ones. Our results are not consistent with two commonly-advanced explanations for gender differences in field of study, namely disparities in prior academic preparation and in sensitivity to rank in class.

Suggested Citation

  • Fanny Landaud & Son Thierry Ly & Eric Maurin, 2020. "Competitive Schools and the Gender Gap in the Choice of Field of Study," Post-Print halshs-01885436, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01885436
    DOI: 10.3368/jhr.55.2.0617.8864R
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    Cited by:

    1. Bütikofer, Aline & Ginja, Rita & Landaud, Fanny & Løken, Katrine V., 2020. "School Selectivity, Peers, and Mental Health," Working Papers in Economics 5/20, University of Bergen, Department of Economics.
    2. Camille Remigereau & Clara Schäper, 2024. "The Impact of Student Aid Eligibility on Higher Education Applications," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 2104, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    3. Briole, Simon, 2021. "Are girls always good for boys? Short and long term effects of school peers’ gender," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    4. Getik, Demid & Meier, Armando N., 2021. "Early Socialization and the Gender Wage Gap," Working Papers 2021:13, Lund University, Department of Economics.
    5. Shen, Kailing, 2021. "Gender Discrimination," IZA Discussion Papers 14897, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Lee, Wang-Sheng, 2024. "Single-Sex vs. Coeducational Schooling and STEM: Comparing Australian Students with Similar University Admission Scores," IZA Discussion Papers 17084, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. 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.
    8. Camille Remigereau & Clara Schäper, 2024. "The Impact of Student Aid Eligibility on Higher Education Applications," CESifo Working Paper Series 11592, CESifo.
    9. Antonio Dalla-Zuanna & Kai Liu & Kjell G. Salvanes, 2025. "Pulled In and Crowded Out: Heterogeneous Outcomes of Merit-Based School Choice," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 17(4), pages 184-222, October.
    10. Jung, Dain & Kim, Jun Hyung & Kwak, Do Won, 2024. "Who Benefits from Single-Sex Schooling? Evidence on Mental Health, Peer Relationships, and Academic Achievements," IZA Discussion Papers 17330, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. McNally, Sandra, 2020. "Gender Differences in Tertiary Education: What Explains STEM Participation?," IZA Policy Papers 165, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/2s5rvqlm849bmb2v0rh9s1q2qg is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Shulamit Kahn & Donna Ginther, 2017. "Women and STEM," NBER Working Papers 23525, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    14. Nguyen, Ha Trong & Brinkman, Sally & Le, Huong Thu & Zubrick, Stephen R. & Mitrou, Francis, 2022. "Gender differences in time allocation contribute to differences in developmental outcomes in children and adolescents," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    15. Manon Garrouste & Camille Hémet, 2024. "Neighbor Effects and Early Track Choices," Working Papers halshs-04655509, HAL.
    16. 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.
    17. Tao, Hung-Lin & Cheng, Hui-Pei, 2022. "Parental and sibling influence on study field choice: Gender-stereotypical or field preference transmission," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    18. Li, Changhong & Liu, Xianlang, 2025. "Why boys tend to engage in bullying behavior more frequently than girls? Evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    19. Oosterbeek, Hessel & Ruijs, Nienke & de Wolf, Inge, 2023. "Heterogeneous effects of comprehensive vs. single-track academic schools: Evidence from admission lotteries," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    20. Fanny Landaud & Eric Maurin, 2020. "Aim High and Persevere! Competitive Pressure and Access Gaps in Top Science Graduate Programs," Working Papers halshs-03065958, HAL.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality

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