Coeducation, Female Human Capital, and the Evolution of Gender Norms
(with Bin Huang)
Abstract: This paper studies the spillover effect of exposure to gender diversity through social networks. In 1920, Peking University became the first Chinese university to admit women. We focus on the indirect effect of this coeducation reform through male students and compare female educational outcomes in the home counties of first-exposed and last-non-exposed male graduates. We find that the exposure to the coeducation reform increased the probability of female university enrollment at the county level by 13.18 percentage points. The main mechanism is the spread of more progressive gender norms through the personal networks of male students, reflected by a positive shift in male students' gender attitudes and an increase in university enrollment predominantly among female students from the same clan. However, the spillover did not increase the mass schooling of girls. Female enrollment in primary schools was unaffected, which suggests the limited capacity of elites to shape broader social change.
The U.S. Origins of Chinese Science (Job Market Paper)
(with Bin Huang) draft coming soon!
Female Human Capital Investment with Limited Returns
(with Negar Ziaeian)
The Canals Not Built
(with James Fenske and Bishnupriya Gupta)