Just Like Daddy: The occupational choice of UK Graduates
This paper examines occupational choices made by two cohorts of UK graduates. About 10% of graduates are in the same occupation as their father 6 or 11 years after graduation. Males graduating from medicine or agricultural studies are more likely to be follower but the main observable determinants of the decision to follow appears to be father's occupation and education. Following in one father's footsteps leads to a pay premium ranging from 5% to 8% for men but none for women. As this pay premium increases with labour market experience, we conclude that it stems from intergenerational transmission of human capital rather than pure nepotism.