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Information Provision and Postgraduate Studies

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  • Jan Berkes
  • Frauke Peter
  • C. Katharina Spiess
  • Felix Weinhardt

Abstract

This is the first paper to examine experimentally effects of information provision on beliefs about pecuniary and non‐pecuniary returns of postgraduate education, enrolment intentions and realized enrolment. We find that our treatment causally affects beliefs measured six months after treatment. The effects on beliefs differ by gender and academic background, and we find that stated enrolment intentions change accordingly; in particular, males adjust significantly downwards their beliefs and intentions to undertake postgraduate studies. This is driven by males upward adjusting earnings expectations with a first degree only. We follow the students further and provide evidence on actual enrolment one and two years after treatment. Taken together, this study highlights the relevance of information provision on pecuniary and non‐pecuniary labour market returns for postgraduate study decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Berkes & Frauke Peter & C. Katharina Spiess & Felix Weinhardt, 2022. "Information Provision and Postgraduate Studies," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 89(355), pages 627-646, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:econom:v:89:y:2022:i:355:p:627-646
    DOI: 10.1111/ecca.12416
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    Cited by:

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    3. Nikoloz Kudashvili & Gega Todua, 2022. "Information, Perceived Returns and College Major Choices," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp717, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    4. Hervelin Jérémy, 2022. "Directing young dropouts via SMS: evidence from a field experiment," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, January.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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