Stereotypes can represent societal expectations based on an individual’s observable identity. The cost of making choices that go against stereotypes is difficult to assess, as those who do so typically end up in a numerical minority, a condition which might matter on its own. In this paper I disentangle these two effects by combining a choice with well-defined stereotypes (university major) with variation in peer identity across small, exogenously formed, classes within the same course. Evidence from the performance of 14,000 students in an elite university indicates that those who go against stereotypes, e.g. women in maths, do not suffer from being in a numerical minority, but they impose negative externalities on those who select on stereotypes. This might explain why the majority upholds stereotypes and why policies to foster minority inclusion should target the majority.

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Other papers:

“How do political parties respond to gender quotas? Evidence from South Korea” (with Jay Euijung Lee)

Research in progress:

“Group Composition and Group Decision-Making: Evidence from Municipal Council Meetings in South Korea” (with Jay Euijung Lee)

“Unemployment, Volunteering and Re-envisioning The Nature of Work” (With Nava Ashraf, Oriana Bandiera, and Virginia Minni)

Placement Officer
Professor Mark Schankerman

Supervisor
Professor Oriana Bandiera

Advisors
Professor Robin Burgess
Professor Nava Ashraf

References
Professor Oriana Bandiera
Professor Robin Burgess
Professor Nava Ashraf

Email
M.Zanella1@lse.ac.uk

Office Address
Department of Economics,
London School of Economics and Political Science,
Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE