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Search equilibrium and social and private returns to education

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  • Holzner, Christian
  • Launov, Andrey

Abstract

Social and private returns to education are computed using the structural estimates of an extended Burdett-Mortensen search equilibrium model. The extension includes different skill groups linked via a production function with variable degree of homogeneity, allowing thereby for a unimodal earnings density with a decreasing right tail. We find that the decreasing unemployment risk for higher skill groups and the absence of tuition fees in Germany increase private returns and lead to a too large share of high skilled individuals in the workforce, which is suboptimal from the social point of view.

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  • Holzner, Christian & Launov, Andrey, 2010. "Search equilibrium and social and private returns to education," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 39-59, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:54:y:2010:i:1:p:39-59
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    Cited by:

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    2. Stijepic, Damir, 2013. "Successive Technical Change and the Demand for Skill," VfS Annual Conference 2013 (Duesseldorf): Competition Policy and Regulation in a Global Economic Order 79870, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    3. Kedir, Abbi & Kyrizi, Andri & Martínez Mora, Francisco,, 2012. "Signalling and Productivity Effects of Overeducation: Is It Really a Waste of Resources?," Working Papers 2072/203170, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Economics.
    4. Heitor, Manuel & Horta, Hugo & Leocádio, Miguel, 2016. "Enlarging the social basis of higher education: Lessons learned from extending a social support system with a risk-sharing loan scheme in Portugal," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 113(PB), pages 319-327.
    5. Mendolicchio Concetta & Paolini Dimitri & Pietra Tito, 2012. "Asymmetric Information And Overeducation," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 12(1), pages 1-29, October.
    6. Damir Stijepic, 2017. "Globalization, Worker Mobility and Wage Inequality," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(1), pages 108-131, February.
    7. Gürtzgen, Nicole & Blömer, Maximilian & Pohlan, Laura & Stichnoth, Holger & van den Berg, Gerard, 2016. "Estimating an Equilibrium Job Search Model for the German Labour Market," VfS Annual Conference 2016 (Augsburg): Demographic Change 145950, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    8. Christian Holzner & Mario Larch, 2022. "Convex vacancy creation costs and on‐the‐job search in a global economy," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(1), pages 136-175, January.
    9. Blömer, Maximilian J. & Guertzgen, Nicole & Pohlan, Laura & Stichnoth, Holger & van den Berg, Gerard J., 2024. "Unemployment effects of the German minimum wage in an equilibrium job search model," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    10. Berens, Johannes & Henao, Leandro & Schneider, Kerstin, 2024. "Tuition fees and academic (in)activity in higher education: How did students adjust to the abolition of tuition fees in Germany?," Ruhr Economic Papers 1074, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.

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