Geographic mobility of college students and the gender gap in academic aspirations
研究西班牙学生申请精英研究生奖学金的数据，发现非STEM领域女性申请率低于同等成绩男性，而STEM领域无性别差距；女性对博士学习和出国留学兴趣较低，部分原因在于收入预期和恋爱关系的性别不对称影响。
We study the decision to pursue an advanced degree from an internationally renowned academic institution, which greatly facilitates access to top jobs. Relying on unique data on applications to a highly selective program that provides graduate fellowships to Spanish students, we show that women in non-STEM fields apply to the fellowships at lower rates than males with the same GPA and in the same field of study. On the contrary, our estimates imply that females in STEM apply at equal, or higher, rates than comparable males in the same fields. We also find that female students are relatively less interested in doctoral programs and less willing to study abroad than males. To shed light on the mechanisms, we surveyed college students about their post-graduation plans. The lower geographic mobility of female students (in non-STEM fields) appears linked to females’ lower earnings expectations and a gender-asymmetric detrimental effect of involvement in romantic relationships. • We study the decision to seek funding to pursue an advanced degree at an elite institution. • In STEM fields there is no gender gap, but in non-STEMf felds women apply at lower rates than men with the same GPA. • Female students are less interested in doctoral studies and in studying abroad. • Gender differences in earnings expectations and in the effect of romantic relationships explains part of the gap.