Natural Science and Female Wage Premium
Mamiko Takeuchi

Abstract
This study compares the effect of education–occupation matching on wages between the social sciences and natural sciences using Japanese micro data. Recent research suggests that university students majoring in natural sciences have an advantage compared to those majoring in social sciences after graduation. We reconsider this argument on the basis of educational matching theory using an original matching index. Japanese male workers with majors in natural sciences have a slight wage premium compared to those with majors in social sciences. While more than half of this premium is explained by education–occupation matching, the rest is due to qualifications being higher than the bachelor’s degree. On the other hand, Japanese female workers with majors in natural sciences have a wage premium over those with majors in social sciences; however, this is explained by neither education–occupation matching nor qualifications being higher than the bachelor’s degree.

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