Early Influences and the choice of college major: Can policies reduce the gender gap in scientific curricula (STEM)?

I use rich administrative and survey data to analyse the determinants of the gender gap in STEM graduation rates among Italian college graduates. Results from both Gelbach and Oaxaca decompositions show that half of the gender gap in STEM graduation is attributed to the gender difference in maths and science content of the respective high school curricula. This finding indicates that in Italy the gender gap in STEM graduation has its roots in a gendered choice originating many years before and that effective interventions aimed at increasing girls’ interests in science and technology should be implemented at an early stage.

GRANATO Silvia; 

2023-07-28

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

JRC133547

0161-8938 (online),   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC133547,   

10.1016/j.jpolmod.2023.04.006 (online),