Social and economic factors and their relationship with gender gap in STEM in higher education: A spatial analysis of Turkey

Abstract This study investigates the social and economic factors influencing the enrollment rates of women and men in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields across all 81 provinces in Turkey, utilizing a spatial econometric analysis model. This model, considering regional characteristics and spatial relationships, allows for a comprehensive understanding of the geographical distribution of interest in STEM fields and the gender disparities within. Analyses at both global and local levels were conducted to test for the presence of spatial patterns. The impact of social and economic factors on gender-specific enrollment rates in STEM fields was assessed using Ordinary Least Squares analysis, without accounting for spatial autocorrelation. The dataset, based on provincial social and economic indicators for the year 2022, revealed that both women and men in the provinces exhibit similar tendencies towards settling in STEM fields. The preference for STEM fields is lower in the eastern regions, while more pronounced in coastal and industrialized cities. The findings indicate a positive correlation with per capita gross domestic product, the number of teachers in higher education institutes, central government budget expenditure, and the population ratio in the province.