Dynamics of the Gender Gap in High Math Achievement

Glenn Ellison () and Ashley Swanson

No 24910, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This paper examines the dynamics of the gender gap in high math achievement over the high school years using data from the American Mathematics Competition. A clear gender gap is already present by 9th grade and the gender gap widens over the high school years. High-achieving students must substantially improve their performance from year to year to maintain their within-cohort rank, but there is nonetheless a great deal of persistence in the rankings. Several gender-related differences in the dynamics contribute to the widening of the gender gap, including differences in dropout rates and in the mean and variance of year-to-year improvements among continuing students. A decomposition indicates that the most important difference is that fewer girls make large enough gains to move up substantially in the rankings. An analysis of students on the margin of qualifying for a prestigious second stage exam provides evidence of a discouragement effect: some react to falling just short by dropping out of participating in future years, and this reaction is more common among girls.

JEL-codes: I20 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gen and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Published as Glenn Ellison & Ashley Swanson, 2023. "Dynamics of the Gender Gap in High Math Achievement," Journal of Human Resources, vol 58(5), pages 1679-1711.

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