The STEM Next Door: Early Exposure to Science-Trained Neighbors and Long-Run Outcomes

Petter Lundborg and Adrian Nieto

No 12955, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: We examine how early exposure to STEM professionals in the local neighborhood shapes children’s long run educational and labor market outcomes. To identify causal effects, we use Swedish register data and several sources of variation in exposure to STEM qualified neighbors measured at the 100 by 100 meter grid. Exposure during compulsory education raises children’s math performance, and evidence points to social ties as the main channel. It also increases the presence of boys and girls in science programs in high school and university, but mainly boys are more likely to complete a STEM bachelor degree. This gender gap persists into adulthood: STEM employment and earnings rise predominantly for boys. The results show that high skill professionals can serve as community based informal role models and that neighbors can shape long run educational and labor market trajectories.

Keywords: STEM; science; neighbors; role model; human capital; labor trajectory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I2 J2 J3 O3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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