PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - De Philippis, Marta
TI  - STEM Graduates and Secondary School Curriculum
AID  - 10.3368/jhr.1219-10624R1
DP  - 2023 Nov 01
TA  - Journal of Human Resources
PG  - 1914--1947
VI  - 58
IP  - 6
4099  - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/58/6/1914.short
4100  - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/58/6/1914.full
SO  - J Hum Resour2023 Nov 01; 58
AB  - This work explores the effect of strengthening the science curriculum in secondary school on STEM university education. By exploiting the staggered implementation of a reform that encouraged secondary schools in England to offer more science courses to 14-year-olds, I find that taking five more hours per week of science classes increases considerably the probability of enrolling in and graduating with a STEM degree. These results mask substantial gender heterogeneity—more exposure to science only increases boys’ likelihood of enrolling in a STEM degree. Treated girls, although induced to choose more challenging degrees, still opt for more female-dominated (mostly non-STEM) ones.