Is Income Enough to Explain Changes in the Choice of Majors?
Keywords:
choice of majors, non-pecuniary variables, dynamic programming, simulations, abilityAbstract
By influencing her specific labor occupation choice major choices greatly condition the allocation of an individual’s time. Previous economic analysis on the subject has emphasized monetary considerations affecting such a decision, but has been relatively less incisive regarding non pecuniary variables, which are precisely those that psychologists consider as relatively relevant. This paper shows that giving a greater role to non pecuniary variables may vary and even contradict some previous considerations. In fact, when the non-pecuniary variable enters in the utility function it is shown that if abilities are absolute (being proficient in major i implies being proficient in all others), then average ability will not be affected; whereas, in the relative case, the rise in average ability may be indistinguishable.Downloads
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