Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Paper Series,
Stockholm University, Swedish Institute for Social Research

No 1/2023: Intergenerational and Sibling Spillovers in High School Majors

Dan-Olof Rooth () and Anders Stenberg ()
Additional contact information
Dan-Olof Rooth: Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm University, Postal: SOFI, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
Anders Stenberg: Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm University, Postal: SOFI, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: This paper estimates family spillovers in high school major choice in Sweden, where admission to oversubscribed majors is determined based on GPA. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find large sibling and intergenerational spillovers that depend on the gender mix of a dyad. Same-gender siblings copy one another, while younger brothers recoil from older sister’s choices. Fathers and mothers influence sons, but not their daughters, except when a mother majors in the male-dominated program of Engineering. Back of the envelope calculations reveal these within family spillovers have sizable implications for the gender composition of majors.

Keywords: intergenerational spillovers; sibling spillovers; high school majors; gender composition of majors

JEL-codes: I21; J24

Language: English

72 pages, March 16, 2023

Full text files

record.jsf?dswid=-15...ullText=false&sf=all PDF-file Full text

Download statistics

Questions (including download problems) about the papers in this series should be directed to Daniel Rossetti ()
Report other problems with accessing this service to Sune Karlsson ().

RePEc:hhs:sofiwp:2023_001This page generated on 2024-09-13 22:17:10.