Gender differences in economics PhD field specializations with correlated choices

The focus of our paper is the process underlying gender differences in the choice of field specialization among students in doctoral programs in economics. We model the choice among beginning economists within a multivariate logit framework that accommodates single- and dual-primary field specializa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Labour economics 2022-12, Vol.79, p.102289, Article 102289
Main Authors: Sierminska, Eva, Oaxaca, Ronald L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Economics
Gender
Salaries
Specialization
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Summary:The focus of our paper is the process underlying gender differences in the choice of field specialization among students in doctoral programs in economics. We model the choice among beginning economists within a multivariate logit framework that accommodates single- and dual-primary field specializations and incorporates correlations among field specialization choices. Conditioning on personal, economic, and institutional variables reveals that women graduate students are less likely to specialize in Labor/Health, Macro/Finance, Industrial Organization, Public Economics, and Development/Growth/International and are more likely to specialize in Agricultural/Resource/Environmental Economics. Field-specific gender faculty ratios and expected relative salaries as well as economics department rankings are significant factors for gender doctoral specialization dissimilarity. Preferences and characteristics contribute about equally to field specialization dissimilarity.
ISSN:0927-5371
1879-1034
DOI:10.1016/j.labeco.2022.102289