Competitive Schools and the Gender Gap in the Choice of Field of Study

Fanny Landaud (), Son Thierry Ly and Eric Maurin
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Fanny Landaud: PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement

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Abstract: In most developed countries, students have to choose a major field of study during high school. This is an important decision as it largely determines subsequent educational and occupational choices. Using French data, this paper reveals that enrollment at a more selective high school, with higher-achieving peers, has no impact on boys, but a strong impact on girls' choices: they turn away from scientific fields and settle for less competitive ones. Our results are not consistent with two commonly-advanced explanations for gender differences in field of study, namely disparities in prior academic preparation and in sensitivity to rank in class.

Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

Published in Journal of Human Resources, 2020, 55 (1), pp.278-308. ⟨10.3368/jhr.55.2.0617.8864R⟩

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Related works:
Journal Article: Competitive Schools and the Gender Gap in the Choice of Field of Study (2020)
Working Paper: Competitive Schools and the Gender Gap in the Choice of Field of Study (2020)
Working Paper: Competitive Schools and the Gender Gap in the Choice of Field of Study (2020)
Working Paper: Competitive Schools and the Gender Gap in the Choice of Field of Study (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01885436

DOI: 10.3368/jhr.55.2.0617.8864R

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