AEA Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
The Gender Gap in Undergraduate Economics Course Persistence and Degree Selection
AEA Papers and Proceedings
vol. 109,
May 2019
(pp. 255–60)
Abstract
This study examines male and female course persistence and choice of economics degree via a combination of student, instructor, and structural characteristics. We find that students of both genders who declare economics as their major are more likely to take additional economics courses than their non-major peers. Additionally, students' economics grades are a significant determinant of course persistence and degree selection, but men and women respond somewhat differently to their absolute and relative grades. Finally, men's economics degree selection is significantly correlated with their math abilities, while women's economics degree selection is correlated with both their math and verbal aptitudes.Citation
Ahlstrom, Laura J., and Carlos J. Asarta. 2019. "The Gender Gap in Undergraduate Economics Course Persistence and Degree Selection." AEA Papers and Proceedings, 109: 255–60. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20191103Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- A22 Economic Education and Teaching of Economics: Undergraduate
- J16 Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination