Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/278677 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Series/Report no.: 
ECONtribute Discussion Paper No. 253
Publisher: 
University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Reinhard Selten Institute (RSI), Bonn and Cologne
Abstract: 
Cross-country differences in the gender gap of higher education attainment are large. In this paper, we study the role of gender norms for this particular gender gap. To isolate the effect of gender norms from institutional and economic factors, we investigate the decisions of second-generation immigrants in the United States to achieve at least a bachelor's degree. We measure gender norms using economic outcomes as well as beliefs prevailing in the migrants' parents' country of origin. We find that gender norms explain part of the observed differences in the gender gap in attaining at least a bachelor's degree. There is also a sizable effect of gender norms on gender gaps in higher educational attainment levels, such as a master's degree or a PhD. We confirm the gender norms effect using a sample of siblings, which allows us to hold unobservable and observable household characteristics constant.
Subjects: 
gender gap
tertiary education
gender norms
culture
second-generation migrants
sibling fixed effects
JEL: 
I23
I24
J15
J16
J24
Z10
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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