Full Citation

Title: Forming wage expectations through learning: Evidence from college major choices

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2016

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI: 10.1016/J.JEBO.2016.10.013

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: How do college students choose their majors, and what role does the family play in their choices? I use data from two major longitudinal surveys to develop and estimate a model in which students learn about earning opportunities associated with different majors through the wages of older siblings and parents. The probability of a student choosing a major that corresponds to the occupation of a family member is strongly correlated with the family member's wage at the time the major choice is made. This correlation remains strong after controlling for family-correlated abilities or preferences, and additional empirical evidence suggests that the observed correlation arises through a family-based wage information channel.

Url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167268116302426

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Xia, Xiaoyu

Periodical (Full): Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

Issue:

Volume: 132

Pages: 176-196

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Education, Labor Force and Occupational Structure

Countries: