American Economic Review: Insights
ISSN 2640-205X (Print) | ISSN 2640-2068 (Online)
Top of the Batch: Interviews and the Match
American Economic Review: Insights
vol. 4,
no. 2, June 2022
(pp. 223–38)
Abstract
Most doctors in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) match with one of their most preferred internship programs. However, surveys indicate doctors' preferences are similar, suggesting a puzzle: how can so many doctors match with their top choices when positions are scarce? We provide one possible explanation. We show that the patterns in the NRMP data may be an artifact of the interview process that precedes the match. Our study highlights the importance of understanding market interactions occurring before and after a matching clearinghouse. It casts doubts on analyses of clearinghouses that take reported preferences at face value.Citation
Echenique, Federico, Ruy González, Alistair J. Wilson, and Leeat Yariv. 2022. "Top of the Batch: Interviews and the Match." American Economic Review: Insights, 4 (2): 223–38. DOI: 10.1257/aeri.20200800Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- C78 Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
- I11 Analysis of Health Care Markets
- I18 Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
- J44 Professional Labor Markets; Occupational Licensing