American Economic Review
ISSN 0002-8282 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7981 (Online)
Quota versus Quality? Long-Term Gains from an Unusual Gender Quota
American Economic Review
(pp. 1996–2037)
Abstract
We evaluate equity-efficiency trade-offs from admissions quotas by examining effects on output once beneficiaries start producing in the relevant industry. We estimate the impact of abolishing a 40 percent quota for male primary school teachers on their pupils' long-run outcomes. We combine this reform with the timing of union-bargained teacher retirements to isolate quasi-random variation in male quota teachers. Pupils exposed to male quota teachers transition more smoothly to postcompulsory education and have higher educational attainment and labor force attachment at age 25. Evidence suggests the quota improved the allocation of talent by mending imperfections in the unconstrained selection process.Citation
Schaede, Ursina, and Ville Mankki. 2026. "Quota versus Quality? Long-Term Gains from an Unusual Gender Quota." American Economic Review 116 (6): 1996–2037. DOI: 10.1257/aer.20230376Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I21 Analysis of Education
- I23 Higher Education; Research Institutions
- I28 Education: Government Policy
- J16 Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
- J24 Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
- J45 Public Sector Labor Markets