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Gendered Impacts of COVID-19 on University Enrollment and Major Choices

Author

Listed:
  • Elisa Failache

    (Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y de Administración. Instituto de Economía)

  • Noemí Katzkowicz

    (Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y de Administración. Instituto de Economía)

  • Cecilia Parada

    (Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y de Administración. Instituto de Economía)

  • Martina Querejeta

    (Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y de Administración. Instituto de Economía)

  • Tatiana Rosá

    (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de Economía y Administración. Departamento de Economía)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic affected people’s lives in several domains. This study provides evidence of the pandemic’s gendered effects on university enrollment and major choices. Using novel administrative records of university students in Uruguay, we conduct a counterfactual exercise that demonstrates a negative correlation between the COVID-19 pandemic and university enrollment. Heterogeneities across fields reveal a positive effect on enrollment in Social Sciences, yet null or even negative effects in Health and Science. These results are driven by male students. For women, we observe an increase in enrollment, particularly in Science. Notably, women are more likely to opt for Science-related majors over Social Sciences. Our results suggest that the recent crisis helped reduce the gender gap in major choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisa Failache & Noemí Katzkowicz & Cecilia Parada & Martina Querejeta & Tatiana Rosá, 2024. "Gendered Impacts of COVID-19 on University Enrollment and Major Choices," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 24-05, Instituto de Economía - IECON.
    • Handle: RePEc:ulr:wpaper:dt-05-24
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    File URL: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12008/44637
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; University enrollment; Major choices; Educational gender gap;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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