Intergenerational and Sibling Spillovers in High School Majors

Gordon Dahl, Dan-Olof Rooth and Anders Stenberg

No 15945, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper estimates family spillovers in high school major choice in Sweden, where admission to oversubscribed majors is determined based on GPA. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find large sibling and intergenerational spillovers that depend on the gender mix of a dyad. Same-gender siblings copy one another, while younger brothers recoil from older sister's choices. Fathers and mothers influence sons, but not their daughters, except when a mother majors in the male-dominated program of Engineering. Back of the envelope calculations reveal these within family spillovers have sizable implications for the gender composition of majors.

Keywords: gender composition of majors; high school majors; sibling spillovers; intergenerational spillovers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 73 pages
Date: 2023-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published - published in: American Economic Journal: Economic Policy American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2024, 16 (3), 133–173

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https://docs.iza.org/dp15945.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Intergenerational and Sibling Spillovers in High School Majors (2024)
Working Paper: Intergenerational and Sibling Spillovers in High School Majors (2023)
Working Paper: Intergenerational and Sibling Spillovers in High School Majors (2020)
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