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Earnings over the Life Course: General versus Vocational Education

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  • Golsteyn, Bart H.H.

    (Maastricht University)

  • Stenberg, Anders

    (SOFI, Stockholm University)

Abstract

Two common hypotheses regarding the relative benefits of vocational versus general education are (1) that vocational skills enhance relative short-term earnings and (2) that general skills enhance relative long-term earnings. Empirical evidence for these hypotheses has remained limited. Based on Swedish registry data of individuals in short (2-year) upper secondary school programs, this study provides a first exploration of individuals' earnings across nearly complete careers. The descriptive earnings patterns indicate support for both hypotheses (1) and (2). The support holds when controlling for GPA and family fixed effects and also when taking into account enrolment in further education and fertility decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Golsteyn, Bart H.H. & Stenberg, Anders, 2017. "Earnings over the Life Course: General versus Vocational Education," IZA Discussion Papers 10593, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp10593
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    human capital; vocational education; life cycle; tracking;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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