Resumen de Factors that Determine the Decline in University Student Enrolments in Economics in Australia: An Empirical Investigation Factors that Determine the Decline in University Student Enrolments in Economics in Australia: An Empirical Investigation.

John Marangos, Vasiliki Fourmouzi, Minoas Koukouritakis

• This study attempts to determine empirically the factors that influence enrolments in economics and business based on data from a panel of Australian universities. Using a two-equation dynamic reduced-form system, our results indicate the following: past year enrolments in a certain field of study have the highest impact on that field of study; in periods of recession enrolments favour economics; female enrolments favour business studies over economics; an increase in total enrolments has a small negative effect on economics enrolments; and finally, there is a positive impact of the eight leading Australian universities ('Group of Eight') on economics enrolments.