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The Determinants of Educational Attainment: Modeling and Estimating the Human Capital Model and Education Production Functions

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  • Kathryn Wilson

Abstract

This paper develops and estimates a theoretical model of an individual's high school graduation choice. The model incorporates the idea of a utility‐maximizing youth responding to the economic incentives associated with incremental education, as posited by the human capital literature. However, it also allows for family, neighborhood, and school characteristics to affect the process of being educated, as posited by the education production function literature. Estimation of the model, using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) supplemented with neighborhood and school data, indicates that indeed students respond to economic incentives in making education choices; however, most of the effects of background characteristics are working through the education process rather than affecting returns to schooling.

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  • Kathryn Wilson, 2001. "The Determinants of Educational Attainment: Modeling and Estimating the Human Capital Model and Education Production Functions," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 67(3), pages 518-551, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:67:y:2001:i:3:p:518-551
    DOI: 10.1002/j.2325-8012.2001.tb00355.x
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    1. W. Nabiddo & B.L. Yawe & F. Wasswa, 2022. "Education attainment and household education expenditure in Uganda: An empirical investigation," Journal of Economic Policy and Management Issues, JEPMI, vol. 1(1), pages 21-49.
    2. Arsene Mouongue Kelly & Beatrice Laure Toukap Yimele & Nidel Lolita Wassou Tchieu & Pascal Ndyanabo Rutazihana, 2023. "Access to Electricity and Primary Education Nexus in Central Africa," Journal of Regional Economics, Anser Press, vol. 2(1), pages 26-41, June.
    3. Nabiddo, Winnie & Yawe, Bruno L. & Wasswa, Francis, 2022. "School Governance and Primary Education Learning Outcomes in Uganda," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 10(4), September.
    4. Serge Atherwood & Gabriela Sánchez-Soto, 2023. "Does Social Class Matter Equally for the Timely Transition Into and Out of College? Evidence from the NLSY97," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 64(1), pages 95-128, February.

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