Peer gender and educational choices

Pål Schøne (), Kristine von Simson () and Marte Strøm ()
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Kristine von Simson: Institute for Social Research

Empirical Economics, 2020, vol. 59, issue 4, No 10, 1763-1797

Abstract: Abstract We use idiosyncratic variation in gender composition across cohorts within Norwegian lower secondary schools to analyze the impact of female peers on students’ educational choices. We find that having more female peers in lower secondary school increases the probability of choosing STEM over language subjects in upper secondary school for both girls and boys. It also increases the probability of choosing a vocational track instead of an academic track. Registry data and survey evidence suggest that potential mechanisms are related to relative performance in STEM subjects, as well as less gender discrimination for girls and increased willingness to compete for boys.

Keywords: Gender; Education; Peer effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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DOI: 10.1007/s00181-019-01697-2

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