Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/314617 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 17720
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
How do students' earnings expectations differ by being the first in their family to attend university (FiF) and how do they affect field of study choice? We leverage unique survey and administrative data from a German university to document sizable gaps in expected earnings between FiF and non-FiF students. Our data can explain two-thirds of this gap, with the largest share attributable to field of study choice. We show that FiF students sort less into study fields based on their earnings expectations. Investigating potential explanations, we find that they expect lower own ability and worse non-wage amenities in high-earning fields.
Subjects: 
earnings expectations
higher education
first-generation
socio-economic gaps
JEL: 
I23
I24
I26
J24
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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