Research in Progress

Download my CV

Find me on Google scholar and at my IZA page. 

Working papers and works in progress:

• "Opening the Black Box of College Major Choice: Evidence from an Information Intervention" (with Fulya Ersoy), Submitted

  • Earlier version released as EDWorkingPaper #22-666

• "Rich Grad, Poor Grad: Family Background and College Major Choice" (with Margaret Leighton), Submitted

  • Earlier version released as IZA Discussion Paper #16099

• "Are Soft Skills Enough? Experimental Evidence on Skill Complementarity for College Graduates" (with Adam Osman), Revised and resubmitted to ILR Review

• "The Kids Aren't Like They Used to Be: 40 Years of Evidence on How College Students Have Changed" (with Margaret Leighton)

• "Selection Into College Major: Are Life Goals As Important as Abilities?" (with Margaret Leighton)

Not currently updating:

• "STEM Occupations and the Gender Gap: What Can We Learn From Job Tasks?", Previously R&R at Contemporary Economic Policy

  • Also released as IZA Discussion Paper #13734 (older version)

  • A data set of all STEM definitions in my paper can be downloaded here (Stata .dta file) or here (Excel) -- Email me at jspeer@memphis.edu for the files if you can't access these!