Open Access

Assortative preferences in choice of major

   | Sep 16, 2020

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Average FSA by NFOR based on 41 major CIP codes (weighted)

NFORCFather–sonMother–sonFather–daughterMother–daughter
F = 1, M = 10.4660.5340.5250.445
F = 1, M = 20.4690.5150.5270.425
F = 2, M = 10.4180.5350.5020.443
F = 2, M = 20.4170.5170.4920.428

Distribution of fathers and mothers by NFOR and 12 prime CIP codes (% and weighted)

FatherMother
NFORMajor’sNFORMajor’s
Majors1.0–0.80.8–0.0share1.0–0.80.8–0.0share
Education157.3242.687.4156.8043.208.74
Arts228.5071.503.4428.3371.673.55
Humanities311.0388.974.8610.0589.955.16
Law423.8976.119.6223.5176.4911.15
Business516.3483.6620.0214.9885.0222.94
Science626.5373.473.3326.2873.723.21
Math/Comp.732.1167.893.6129.0170.993.27
Engineering842.9957.0126.2642.1057.9016.79
Agriculture925.3974.612.9323.5176.492.55
Health1036.1563.8511.9133.2266.7816.08
Services1136.9163.096.6134.5865.426.58
Total32.1567.8529.6270.38

Intergenerational transmission of field of study with 41 major CIP codes

12
FSA–SonFSA–DaughterFSA–SonFSA–Son
FatherMotherFatherMotherFatherMotherFatherMother
FSH = 1 (if same major)0.0550.0020.0250.015
0.0010.0080.0010.062
NFSHM0.0500.051
0.0060.005
NFSHF0.1000.038
0.0030.002
FORCF= 10.0440.027
0.0020.001
FORCM= 10.0200.016
0.0010.003
EDH0.0460.0270.0180.0250.0400.0450.0250.026
0.0030.0020.010.0070.0010.0030.0010.002
Household income 0.0090.0020.0060.0010.0070.0020.0050.001
0.0010.0090.0010.0020.0010.0090.0010.004
Constant0.3470.5290.4640.4340.3900.6150.4640.434
0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.000
Number of Obs.23,74823,74822,25422,25421,10120,01620,19519,159

Transmission of field of study by within-family specification with 41 major CIP codes

(FSAM,S) − (FSAF,S)(FSAM,D) − (FSAF,D)
1212
(NFSHF) – (NFSHM)0.1530.014
0.0020.012
DFORC
1BaseBase
20.0330.027
0.0010.001
30.0350.163
0.0010.068
NFSHM0.1010.005
0.0010.023
NFSHF0.1620.021
0.0010.018
FORCM= 10.0160.016
0.0010.071
FORCF= 10.0510.029
0.0010.001
Constant0.0690.0260.0760.070
0.0010.0020.0010.001
Number of Obs.21,01821,01819,94219,942

Within-family specification for STEM parents with 41 major CIP codes

(FSAMS) − (FSAFS)(FSAMD) − (FSAFD)
Coef.Std. err.Coef.Std. err
NFSHM0.0790.0020.0010.370
NFSHF0.1610.0010.0200.019
STEM0.1510.0010.0190.176
STEM × NFSHM0.0420.1010.0370.306
STEM × NFSHF0.0370.0980.1030.423
FORCM= 10.0170.0010.0160.004
FORCF= 10.0420.0020.0270.001
Constant0.0270.0030.0730.003
Number of Obs.21,01819,942

Field-of-study homogamy (FSH) by prime CIP codes (weighted)

Son’s major
Father’s major1234567891011
Education10.940.801.000.810.800.740.740.000.700.880.63
Arts20.321.000.370.350.310.360.320.000.210.350.38
Humanities30.600.721.000.730.510.590.570.000.560.590.48
Law40.650.720.871.000.770.680.660.000.600.680.53
Business50.550.540.640.691.000.610.570.000.500.560.43
Science60.640.630.670.730.601.000.690.000.510.630.35
Math/Comp.70.640.760.880.630.730.981.000.000.520.640.54
Engineering80.170.140.000.020.000.080.181.000.200.140.21
Agriculture90.230.100.010.110.020.200.160.001.000.260.51
Health100.690.660.760.750.631.000.570.000.570.840.59
Services110.250.210.080.060.000.120.250.510.240.231.00
Mother’s major
Education10.980.840.941.000.860.840.770.000.770.850.46
Arts20.381.000.650.620.400.450.420.000.370.420.15
Humanities30.620.711.000.780.700.740.670.000.570.580.46
Law40.520.590.691.000.750.530.470.000.550.540.47
Business50.210.140.060.000.370.170.291.000.250.160.38
Science60.720.640.700.660.751.000.700.000.600.640.57
Math/Comp.70.390.440.510.380.000.961.000.450.300.200.05
Engineering80.140.190.100.090.000.270.231.000.170.330.25
Agriculture90.390.430.270.400.000.420.320.691.000.340.42
Health100.450.180.000.070.020.420.340.840.571.000.96
Services110.210.270.060.000.020.210.261.000.280.220.60