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Unpacking the STEM Gender Gap: Evidence From Taiwan

Author

Listed:
  • Ian Fillmore

    (Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Hsuan-Hua Huang

    (Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Hao-Chung Li

    (National Chengchi University)

  • Hsien-Ming Lien

    (National Chengchi University)

Abstract

Across many countries, women enroll in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields less often than men. Using Taiwanese data from 2011–2018, we unpack the drivers of this gap. We find the gap in STEM enrollment largely reflects a gap in STEM applications. Conditional on applying to a STEM program, a female applicant is as or more likely to be admitted as a similar male applicant. We then turn to the gap in STEM applications and find one-third can be explained by math and science scores. We also find important differences between men and women in how test scores predict whether they apply to any STEM programs and how many they apply to. Finally, we find the gender gap in STEM applications differs widely across high schools, suggesting that educational institutions and social factors play a role in determining the number of women who pursue degrees in STEM.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian Fillmore & Hsuan-Hua Huang & Hao-Chung Li & Hsien-Ming Lien, 2024. "Unpacking the STEM Gender Gap: Evidence From Taiwan," Working Papers 2024-013, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:hka:wpaper:2024-013
    Note: MIP
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    File URL: http://humcap.uchicago.edu/RePEc/hka/wpaper/Fillmore_Huang_Li_etal_2024_unpacking-stem-gender-gap-taiwan.pdf
    File Function: First version, June 18, 2024
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    college major choice; higher education; Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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