Gendered family peer effects

• Grant number: 21/08880-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2022
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Economics
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Gonçalves de La Fuente Estevan
• Grantee: Bruna Pugialli da Silva Borges
• Host Institution: Escola de Economia de São Paulo (EESP). Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research uses UNICAMP data to estimate family spillovers in major choices in Brazil. First, we analyze if youth mimics their parents' and siblings' fields of study. Second, we evaluate if the impact on major choice varies by the gender of children and parents. Finally, we combine UNICAMP data with data from the Brazilian formal labor market (RAIS) to examine if family peer effects on the major choice result in long-term labor market impacts. To overcome the potential endogeneity issue due to the correlated effects within families, we employ a Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD). We exploit the quasi-random variation in parents' and older siblings' fields of study generated by the discontinuity around the admission cutoffs. Our empirical strategy compares the career choices of children and younger siblings whose parents and older siblings are similar to one another except that they scored just above or below the admission cutoff. Crossing the admission cutoff increases the likelihood of enrolling in the field of study, leading to expected differences in the older siblings' and parents' major choices. To the extent of our knowledge, this paper is the first to assess the impact of siblings' peer effects on major choices in Brazil. Importantly, it also adds to the scarce literature that evaluated parents' spillovers on career choices. Furthermore, the paper evaluates the intergenerational gendered peer effects, which could help us understand the persistence of the gender wage gap. Finally, the richness of the data allows us to directly estimate family spillovers on labor market outcomes, such as occupational choice, wages, and career progression. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FABIANA ROCHA; PAULA PEREDA; MARIA DOLORES MONTOYA DIAZ; BRUNA BORGES; GABRIEL FACUNDES MONTEIRO; LUIZA KARPAVICIUS; LIZ MATSUNAGA; CLARA BRENCK. Diferenças de gênero no desempenho sob diferentes esquemas de avaliação e o leaky pipeline em economia. Estud. Econ., v. 54, n. 4, 2025-01-10. (21/08880-6, 19/16952-7)