The Great Recession and the Widening Income Gap between Alumni of Elite and Less Selective Universities
利用流动报告卡数据，研究发现大衰退期间精英大学与非精英大学毕业生的收入差距扩大，且高薪企业在衰退期间集中招聘精英大学毕业生是重要原因。
Using mobility report card data, I show the income gap between alumni of elite and less selective universities widened for cohorts graduating during the Great Recession. This is evident for mean and median incomes and access to high earning percentiles. Results do not appear driven by differences in student composition, including parental income. Using a unique dataset of recruiting strategies for prestigious firms, I highlight one channel through which university selectivity may have a causal impact: high-wage firms concentrated their recruiting at elite universities during the recession. The results are informative for policies increasing lower-income students’ representation at selective universities.