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Where are the returns to lifelong learning?

Author

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  • Michael Coelli

    (University of Melbourne)

  • Domenico Tabasso

    (University of Essex
    IZA)

Abstract

Participation in formal education during adulthood (ages 25–54) is a key part of lifelong learning. Employing unique longitudinal data for Australia, we highlight the prevalence of such study, the varied reasons for undertaking it (consumption, career development, job and home disruption), and investigate whether it is socially valuable. Our more detailed estimates of the labour market return to adult education (wage rates, employment, hours of work and occupational status) confirm previous studies that generally found such returns to be small and isolated. We contribute to this literature by also estimating the effect of adult education on job satisfaction and satisfaction with employment opportunities. Increases in satisfaction help rationalise the education enrolment decisions of these adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Coelli & Domenico Tabasso, 2019. "Where are the returns to lifelong learning?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 205-237, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:57:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s00181-018-1433-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-018-1433-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Tobias Schultheiss & Uschi Backes-Gellner, 2021. "Different degrees of skill obsolescence across hard and soft skills and the role of lifelong learning for labor market outcomes," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0188, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW), revised Sep 2022.
    2. Dean Hyslop & Trinh Le & Lynn Riggs, 2020. "Projecting the effect of climate change-induced increases in extreme rainfall on residential property damages: A case study from New Zealand," Working Papers 20_03, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.
    3. Celeste K. Carruthers & Christopher Jepsen, 2020. "Vocational Education: An International Perspective," CESifo Working Paper Series 8718, CESifo.
    4. Tobias Schultheiss & Uschi Backes‐Gellner, 2023. "Different degrees of skill obsolescence across hard and soft skills and the role of lifelong learning for labor market outcomes," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(3), pages 257-287, July.
    5. Simon Reinwald & Silvia Annen, 2023. "Influence of Gender and Prior Education Intersectionality on Further Education Investments and Job Satisfaction," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, June.
    6. Nikhil Jha & Cain Polidano, 2016. "Vocational Education and Training: A Pathway to the Straight and Narrow," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2016n21, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Adult education; Lifelong learning; Vocational studies; Returns to education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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