Biased Beliefs and Entry into Scientific Careers

Ina Ganguli (), Patrick Gaulé and Danijela Vuletić Čugalj
Additional contact information
Ina Ganguli: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Danijela Vuletić Čugalj: CERGE-EI

No 13475, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We investigate whether excessively optimistic beliefs may play a role in the persistent demand for doctoral and post-doctoral training in science. We elicit the beliefs and career preferences of doctoral students through a novel survey and randomize the provision of structured information on the true state of the academic market and information through role models on non-academic careers. One year later, both treatments lead students to update their beliefs about the academic market and impact career preferences. However, we do not find an effect on actual career outcomes 2 years post-intervention.

Keywords: career preferences; biased beliefs; information; higher education; science (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D80 D84 I23 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 60 pages
Date: 2020-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lma and nep-sog
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: Biased Beliefs and Entry into Scientific Careers (2020)
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