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Family Background, Education and Earnings in Kenya

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  • Wambugu, Anthony

    (Department of Economics, School of Economics and Commercial Law, Göteborg University)

Abstract

This paper uses data collected in 2000 to first estimate OLS and ordered probit models to measure correlation between family background and workers’ education. Then, human capital earnings functions are estimated to examine to what extent family background accounts for observed correlation between workers’ education and earnings. Subsequently, it estimates returns to education with education treated as endogenous. Having well-educated parents is associated with greater educational attainment and earnings. Returns to education decline slightly when parents’ education controls are in the earnings function. Instrumental variable estimation or self-selection correction suggests that estimates of returns to education may be larger than conventional estimates suggest.

Suggested Citation

  • Wambugu, Anthony, 2002. "Family Background, Education and Earnings in Kenya," Working Papers in Economics 76, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0076
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2077/2852
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Milu Muyanga & John Olwande & Esther Mueni & Stella Wambugu, 2010. "Free Primary Education in Kenya: An Impact Evaluation Using Propensity Score Methods," Working Papers PMMA 2010-08, PEP-PMMA.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Earnings function; return to education; instrumental variables;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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