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Separating risk from heterogeneity in education: a semiparametric approach

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  • Jacopo Mazza
  • Hans van Ophem

Abstract

Returns to education are variable both within and between educational group. If uncertain pay‐offs are a concern to individuals when selecting an education, wage variance is relevant. The variation is a combination of unobserved heterogeneity and pure uncertainty or risk. The first element is known to the individual, but unknown to the researcher; the second is unknown to both. As a result, the variance of wages observed in the data will overestimate the real magnitude of educational uncertainty and the effect that risk has on educational decisions. We apply a semiparametric estimation technique to tackle the selectivity issues. This method does not rely on distributional assumptions of the errors in the schooling choice and wage equations. Our results suggest that risk is decreasing in schooling. Private information accounts for a share varying between 0% and 13% of total wage variance observed depending on the educational level. Finally, we conclude that the estimation results are very sensitive to the functional relation that is imposed on the error structure.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacopo Mazza & Hans van Ophem, 2018. "Separating risk from heterogeneity in education: a semiparametric approach," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 181(1), pages 249-275, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jorssa:v:181:y:2018:i:1:p:249-275
    DOI: 10.1111/rssa.12253
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    Cited by:

    1. d’Astous, Philippe & Shore, Stephen H., 2024. "Programs of study and earnings dynamics," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    2. Kässi, Otto, 2012. "Uncertainty and Heterogeneity in Returns to Education: Evidence from Finland," MPRA Paper 48738, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 Aug 2013.
    3. Yang, Guanyi & Casner, Ben, 2021. "How much does schooling disutility matter?," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(1), pages 87-95.
    4. Jacopo Mazza, 2012. "Does Risk Matter? A Semi-parametric Model for Educational Choices in the Presence of Uncertainty," Economics Discussion Paper Series 1225, Economics, The University of Manchester.

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