The Gender Gap in Undergraduate Economics Course Persistence and Degree Selection

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.

Does Advanced Placement Economics Exam Participation and Performance Predict Undergraduate Economics Major Completion?

“…In addition, a student who completes both AP Economics exams may have a strong likelihood of entering college as an economics major. Consistent with prior results, matriculation as an economics major is a significant and positive predictor of graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics, suggesting that students with prior interest in economics are likely to persist through the economics major (Ahlstrom & Asarta, 2019a, 2019b). Although students may acquire an interest in economics before completion of an economics course, positive experiences in economics courses, especially ones taken at the AP level, may encourage students to pursue an economics major in college.…”

“…Exposure to economics coursework prior to college may also significantly improve students’ undergraduate principles of economics course performance (Ashworth & Evans, 2001; Melican et al, 1997). Furthermore, students who earn higher grades in their introductory economics courses may be more likely to persist in taking additional economics courses and graduating with an economics degree (Ahlstrom and Asarta, 2019a, 2019b; Emerson et al, 2012; Rask & Tiefenthaler, 2008). Consequently, a student’s high school economics course experiences may affect their economics major selection through a variety of mechanisms.…”

“…Evidence indicates that women and minority students are less inclined to select economics as a major (Bayer & Rouse, 2016; Bayer & Wilcox, 2019; Emerson et al, 2012). Students’ performance on the math and verbal SATs may also affect their selection of an economics degree (Ahlstrom & Asarta, 2019a; Ashworth & Evans, 2001; Rask & Tiefenthaler, 2008). A small proportion of students matriculate into universities as economics majors, and students’ experiences and achievement in their introductory undergraduate economics courses may have significant effects on the selection of an economics major (Ahlstrom & Asarta, 2019b; Emerson et al, 2012; Rask & Tiefenthaler, 2008).…”

“…A small proportion of students matriculate into universities as economics majors, and students’ experiences and achievement in their introductory undergraduate economics courses may have significant effects on the selection of an economics major (Ahlstrom & Asarta, 2019b; Emerson et al, 2012; Rask & Tiefenthaler, 2008). For instance, student performance in principles of economics courses is positively correlated with taking subsequent economics courses and earning an economics degree (Ahlstrom and Asarta, 2019a, 2019b; Emerson et al, 2012; Rask & Tiefenthaler, 2008). A large number of students also switch into an economics major after successful completion of an introductory economics course (Emerson & McGoldrick, 2019; Fournier & Sass, 2000; Mumford & Ohland, 2011).…”

Gender Gaps in Education

“…Another field experiment shows that a mentoring and nudging treatment increased female students' probability of majoring in economics (Li 2018). In a third case, institutional data reveal that persistence in studying economics, for female students, is particularly affected by the attractiveness of introductory economics courses and relative economics course grades (Ahlstrom and Asarta 2019).…”