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Distance to Medical Schools and Its Impact on the Gender Gap in Admissions: An Equilibrium Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Taiju Kitano

    (Graduate School of International Management, Aoyama Gakuin University)

  • Tomoharu Mori

    (College of Comprehensive Psychology, Ritsumeikan University)

  • Ryo Nakajima

    (Department of Economics, Keio University)

  • Katsuya Takii

    (Osaka School of International Public Policy, University of Osaka)

Abstract

This study constructs and estimates a structural equilibrium model of the medical school market in which students strategically apply to schools, and admission probabilities at specific institutions are endogenously determined. It empirically analyzes how gender differences in preferences related to distance from home impact gender disparities in public medical school admissions in Japan. Our results indicate that females incur greater costs associated with distance compared to males. While financial aid to offset distance-related costs can increase the proportion of female applicants to medical schools, it does not lead to a corresponding increase in female admissions due to the effects of competition. We propose a financially feasible alternative affirmative action policy that provides financial aid exclusively to female students to reduce the gender gap.

Suggested Citation

  • Taiju Kitano & Tomoharu Mori & Ryo Nakajima & Katsuya Takii, 2025. "Distance to Medical Schools and Its Impact on the Gender Gap in Admissions: An Equilibrium Approach," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series DP2025-006, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.
    • Handle: RePEc:keo:dpaper:dp2025-006
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    File URL: https://ies.keio.ac.jp/upload/DPDP2025-006_EN.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    medical school market; gender gap; distance; applications; admissions; market equilibrium; discrete choice;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • L10 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - General

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