Determinants of College Major Choice: Identification Using an Information Experiment. Working Paper #02-11.
Determinants of College Major Choice: Identification Using an Information Experiment. Working Paper #02-11.
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DOI：
10.1093/restud/rdu044
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发表时间：
2011-07
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Matthew Wiswall;basit. zafar
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Matthew Wiswall;basit. zafar
本文研究了大学专业选择的决定因素，使用实验产生的面板的信念，通过提供学生的真实人口分布的各种专业的具体特征的信息。学生在逻辑上修改他们的信念，以回应信息，他们对未来专业选择的主观信念与他们自己的收入和能力的信念。我们估计了一个丰富的大学专业选择模型，使用面板的信念数据。预期收入和感知能力是专业选择的重要决定因素，而不同的口味是专业选择的主导因素。那些忽略了品味与收入预期之间的相关性的分析夸大了收入在大学专业选择中的作用。最后，我们通过计算信息实验的福利收益得出结论，发现平均福利收益为正。
This article studies the determinants of college major choice using an experimentally generated panel of beliefs, obtained by providing students with information on the true population distribution of various major-specific characteristics. Students logically revise their beliefs in response to the information, and their subjective beliefs about future major choice are associated with beliefs about their own earnings and ability. We estimate a rich model of college major choice using the panel of beliefs data. While expected earnings and perceived ability are a significant determinant of major choice, heterogeneous tastes are the dominant factor in the choice of major. Analyses that ignore the correlation in tastes with earnings expectations inflate the role of earnings in college major choices. We conclude by computing the welfare gains from the information experiment and find positive average welfare gains.