Neighborhood Impacts on STEM Major Choice
◈ 발표자 : 김정혁 (연세대 인구와인재 연구원)
◈ 일 시 : 2025년 10월 1일 수요일 16:30 ~ 17:45◈ 장 소 : 우석경제관(223동) 109호
◈ 주 관 : 경제학부, 경제연구소 한국경제혁신센터, SSK, BK21
세미나 이전에 연사님과 개인면담을 원하시는 분은 아래 구글 스프레드시트에서 원하시는 시간에 성함을 기입해주시기 바랍니다. 개인면담 스프레드시트는 30일 오후 4시에 마감하도록 하겠습니다.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fwKtAIRI2G8B6nq94EOYRHyDE-p_r6tJ57vqmKF_6G4/edit?usp=sharing
- 본 세미나는 경제학부 BK21 관련 세미나 참석으로 인정됩니다.
경제학부 대학원생 중 세미나 참석 인정을 받기를 원하시는 학생은 세미나 종료 후 세미나실 내에 위치한 참석 명단을 기재해 주시기 바랍니다.
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Abstract
This paper provides causal evidence that the neighborhoods where students grow up play a significant role in shaping their college major choices, focusing on STEM fields. Using administrative data from Texas and variation in the timing of school moves across counties and districts, we estimate the impact of neighborhood exposure on the likelihood of pursuing a STEM major. We find that students who move to high-STEM neighborhoods—defined by the share of non-moving peers who earn STEM degrees—are increasingly likely to major in STEM with each additional year of exposure. We also show that neighborhood STEM exposure is strongly tied to the local occupational landscape, especially the concentration of residents working in STEM fields, with the highest-STEM areas clustered around major research and technology hubs. This suggests that exposure to local STEM careers is a key mechanism behind the observed effects. Mediation analysis further reveals that the effects operate primarily through behavioral pathways—specifically, increased enrollment in advanced science/math coursework—rather than improvements in academic performance. Importantly, the benefits of STEM-rich neighborhoods extend to underrepresented groups, including students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, women, and racial minorities. These findings underscore the critical role of neighborhood environments in shaping educational pathways and highlight their importance in addressing educational inequality and strengthening the STEM pipeline.