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Research ArticleArticles

Comparative Advantage and Gender Gap in STEM

Sofoklis Goulas, Silvia Griselda and Rigissa Megalokonomou
Published online before print June 10, 2022, 0320-10781R2; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0320-10781R2
Sofoklis Goulas
Sofoklis Goulas is a Senior Research Analyst at the Hoover Institution Stanford University.
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Silvia Griselda
Silvia Griselda is a Post-doc Researcher at the AXA Research Lab at Bocconi University.
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Rigissa Megalokonomou
Rigissa Megalokonomou is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Queensland.
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Abstract

Why are females, compared with males, both more likely to have strong STEM-related performance and less likely to enter a STEM field later on? We exploit random classroom assignment to identify the impact of comparative STEM advantage on specialization decisions. Comparative STEM advantage is proxied by the within-classroom ranking of the ratio of STEM over non-STEM performance. We find that females with a higher comparative STEM advantage are more likely to choose a STEM school track and apply for a STEM degree. Comparative STEM advantage explains 12% of the underrepresentation of qualified females in the earliest instance of STEM specialization.

Keywords:
  • gender gap
  • STEM
  • random peer effects
  • ordinal rank
  • absolute advantage
  • comparative advantage
JEL Classification:
  • I21
  • I24
  • J24

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Journal of Human Resources: 60 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 60, Issue 3
1 May 2025
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Comparative Advantage and Gender Gap in STEM
Sofoklis Goulas, Silvia Griselda, Rigissa Megalokonomou
Journal of Human Resources Jun 2022, 0320-10781R2; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.0320-10781R2

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Comparative Advantage and Gender Gap in STEM
Sofoklis Goulas, Silvia Griselda, Rigissa Megalokonomou
Journal of Human Resources Jun 2022, 0320-10781R2; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.0320-10781R2
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Keywords

  • gender gap
  • STEM
  • random peer effects
  • ordinal rank
  • absolute advantage
  • comparative advantage
  • I21
  • I24
  • J24
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