Matching in the Dark? Inequalities in Student to Degree Match

Stuart Campbell, Lindsey Macmillan, Richard Murphy and Gill Wyness

No 9261, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: This paper examines inequalities in the match between student and degree quality using linked administrative data from schools, universities and tax authorities. We analyse two measures of match at the university-subject level: undergraduate enrollment qualifications, and graduate earnings. We find for both that disadvantaged students match to lower quality degrees across the entire distribution of achievement, in a setting with uniform fees and a generous financial aid system. While there are negligible gender gaps in academic match, high-attaining women systematically undermatch in terms of expected earnings, driven by subject choice. These inequalities in match are largest among the most undermatched.

Keywords: higher education; educational economics; college choice; mismatch; undermatch (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I23 I24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-eur and nep-isf
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Matching in the Dark? Inequalities in Student to Degree Match (2022)
Working Paper: Matching in the Dark? Inequalities in student to degree match (2021)
Working Paper: Matching in the Dark? Inequalities in student to degree match (2020)
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