Long-term effect of childhood pandemic experience on medical major choice: Evidence from the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in China

Chen, Ze; Wang, Yuan; Guan, Yanjun; Guo, Michael Jie; Xu, Rong

Abstract

This study examines the long-term effect of a pandemic on a crucial human capital decision, namely college major choice. Using China’s 2008–2016 major-level National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) entry grades, we find that the 2003 SARS had a substantial deterrent effect on the choice of majoring in medicine among high school graduates who experienced the pandemic in their childhood. In provinces with larger intensities of SARS impact, medical majors become less popular as the average Gaokao grades of enrolled students decline. Further evidence from a nationally representative survey shows that the intensity of the SARS impact significantly decreases children’s aspirations to pursue medical occupations, but does not affect their parents’ expectations for their children to enter the medical profession. Our discussions on the effect mechanism suggest that the adverse influence of SARS on the popularity of medical majors likely originates from students’ childhood experiences.

Citation

Chen, Z., Wang, Y., Guan, Y., Guo, M. J., & Xu, R. (2023). Long-term effect of childhood pandemic experience on medical major choice: Evidence from the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in China. Health Economics, 32(5), 1120-1147. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4659

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 9, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Feb 20, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-05
• Deposit Date: Jan 24, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 21, 2024
• Journal: Health Economics
• Print ISSN: 1057-9230
• Electronic ISSN: 1099-1050
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1120-1147
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4659
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1180949