Industry Fluctuations and College Major Choices: Evidence from an Energy Boom and Bust

From epidemic to pandemic: Effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on high school program choices in Sweden

“…There is also a growing literature showing that students alter their choice of college majors to higher-paying fields when faced with a depressed labor market (Blom et al, 2021;Bradley, 2012;Liu et al, 2018). However, other studies find that sector-specific shocks can deter college students from generally well-paid or prestigious majors in the affected sectors (Han and Winters, 2020;Weinstein, 2020). Our study is one of the few that provides results for students who apply to vocational programs and generally come from families with a lower socioeconomic background.…”

No Place Like Home: Place-Based Attachments and Regional Science

“…Rocky Mountain natives can learn skiing, hiking, and climbing; Minnesotans can learn ice fishing, curling, and hockey; coastal residents can learn surfing and other water and beach activities. Individuals also often invest in job skills that are particularly valuable in their home area (Han and Winters, 2020).…”

From Epidemic to Pandemic: Did the COVID-19 Outbreak Affect High School Program Choices in Sweden?

“…Some studies find that economic downturns shift students toward higher-paying majors, such as those in STEM fields (Blom et al, 2021;Liu et al, 2018). However, there is also evidence that sector-specific shocks can deter students from generally well-paid or prestigious majors in the affected sectors (Han and Winters, 2020;Weinstein, 2020). As far as the impact of the COVID-19 crisis is concerned, early survey evidence from the US indicates that the pandemic increased college students' likelihood of switching towards majors with higher annual earnings (Aucejo et al, 2020).…”