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The impact of business cycle fluctuations on graduate school enrollment

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  • Johnson, Matthew T.

Abstract

This paper adds to the understanding of student decisions about graduate school attendance by studying the magnitude of the effect of business cycle fluctuations on enrollment. I use data on graduate school enrollment from the Current Population Survey and statewide variation in unemployment rates across time to proxy for changes in business cycle conditions. I find that overall graduate school enrollment is countercyclical for females and acyclical for males. I show that changes in the unemployment rate have non-linear impacts on female enrollment and that poor labor market conditions lead to a substitution from full-time enrollment to part-time enrollment for both genders.

Suggested Citation

  • Johnson, Matthew T., 2013. "The impact of business cycle fluctuations on graduate school enrollment," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 122-134.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:34:y:2013:i:c:p:122-134
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2013.02.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Graduate school; Higher education; Business cycles;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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