Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/319682 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
GLO Discussion Paper No. 1623
Publisher: 
Global Labor Organization (GLO), Essen
Abstract: 
Horizontal gender segregation in education negatively impacts both equity and efficiency in the labor market, contributing to disparities in career opportunities and economic outcomes. This paper examines the influence of social origins on gender segregation in Italian tertiary education over recent decades. Utilizing high-quality data on individuals born between 1941 and 1995, we find that parental education significantly shapes offspring's field of study choices. Specifically, higher parental education increases the likelihood of students making nontraditional field choices - girls selecting traditionally maledominated fields, such as STEM, and boys opting for traditionally female-dominated fields. This effect is primarily driven by girls entering male-dominated fields. The results remain robust across various field classifications and model specifications, highlighting the enduring role of family background in shaping educational and occupational outcomes. These findings align with previous research conducted in other countries.
Subjects: 
Higher education
Fields of study
Gender inequality
Equality of opportunities
Intergenerational inequality
JEL: 
I23
I24
J16
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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