Scientific Education and Innovation: From Technical Diplomas to University STEM Degrees

95 Pages Posted: 25 Mar 2017 Last revised: 21 Feb 2019

See all articles by Nicola Bianchi

Nicola Bianchi

Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Michela Giorcelli

University of California - Los Angeles; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: February 17, 2019

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.

Keywords: STEM, human capital, education policy, innovation, patents

JEL Classification: I21, I25, I26, I28, J24, O30

Suggested Citation

Bianchi, Nicola and Giorcelli, Michela, Scientific Education and Innovation: From Technical Diplomas to University STEM Degrees (February 17, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2940357 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2940357

Nicola Bianchi (Contact Author)

Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Michela Giorcelli

University of California - Los Angeles ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.giorcellimichela.com

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

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Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.giorcellimichela.com

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