Scientific Education and Innovation: From Technical Diplomas to University Stem Degrees. Issue 5 (11th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bianchi, Nicola; Giorcelli, Michela
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Economic Association. Volume 18:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 2608
• Page End: 2646
• Publication Date: 2019-09-11
• Subjects: Economics -- Periodicals; Économie politique -- Périodiques; Science économique; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 330
• DOI: 10.1093/jeea/jvz049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1542-4766

Abstract

Abstract: This paper studies the effects of university STEM education on innovation and labor market outcomes by exploiting a change in enrollment requirements in Italian STEM majors. University-level scientific education had two direct effects on the development of patents by students who had acquired a STEM degree. First, the policy changed the direction of their innovation. Second, it allowed these individuals to reach top positions within firms and be more involved in the innovation process. STEM degrees, however, also changed occupational sorting. Some higher-achieving individuals used STEM degrees to enter jobs that required university-level education, but did not focus on patenting.