Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Syverson, Peter D.
URN	etd-08012012-040402
Title	Engineering undergraduate enrollment and the engineering labor market :a lagged-supply analysis
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Economics
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Freiden, Alan N. Committee Chair Mackay, Robert J. Committee Member Meiselman, David I. Committee Member
Keywords	Engineering
Date of Defense	1988-05-05
Availability	restricted
Abstract The relationship between economic and demographic factors and the flow of new students into undergraduate engineering programs was investigated. An empirical analysis was undertaken based on a lagged-supply model developed earlier by Richard Freeman. The analysis involved the replication of the Freeman model over the 1948-1972 period, the extension of the model through 1986, and the forecasting of first-year engineering enrollments up to the year 2000. The model developed in this thesis was able to a accurately mirror the engineering enrollment trends from 1948 to 1986. The economic variables--especially R&D expenditures and starting engineering salaries relative to median income of college graduates--were found to be important factors in the flow of freshmen into engineering. None of the variables relating to demographic trends were found to significantly related to first—year engineering enrollment. The importance of the federal government's role in the engineering labor market through research and development funding is discussed, along with forecasts of possible trends in first-year engineering enrollment.
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