Research

All the Things We Could Have Been: Labor Market Outcomes of Not Getting into the Ideal Major
Abstract: Education and major selection have an enduring impact on labor market outcomes.  Leveraging the quasi-experimental setting of the College Entrance Exam in China and a mix of administrative, survey, and online labor market data, I provide causal evidence on the impact of being marginally excluded from one's preferred major on long-term career development for elite college students. Those narrowly missing their ideal majors invest more in career-focused skills and industry reputation both before and after graduation. Over time, they self-select into industries aligned with their preferred majors but face significantly higher job instability and slightly lower wages. A policy reform in the major application process supports these findings, linking them to over-inference and the frustration of narrowly missing their ideal majors.
presented at: All-California Labor Economics Conference (poster session), USC Economics PhD Alumni Conference (poster session)