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Effect of Secondary Education on Cognitive and Non-cognitive Skills

Author

Listed:
  • Ollikainen, Jani-Petteri

    (LABORE Labour Institute for Economic Research)

  • Pekkarinen, Tuomas

    (VATT, Helsinki)

  • Uusitalo, Roope

    (University of Helsinki)

  • Virtanen, Hanna

    (ETLA - The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy)

Abstract

We exploit admission cutoffs to secondary schools to study the effects of general academically oriented, versus vocational secondary schooling on cognitive and non-cognitive skills using a regression discontinuity design. We measure these skills using the Finnish Defence Forces Basic Skills Test that due to compulsory military service covers the vast majority of Finnish men and is a strong predictor of later labor market success. We find that large differences in average skills across students that differ in their schooling when entering military service are due to selection rather than causal effects of secondary schooling on either cognitive or non-cognitive skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Ollikainen, Jani-Petteri & Pekkarinen, Tuomas & Uusitalo, Roope & Virtanen, Hanna, 2022. "Effect of Secondary Education on Cognitive and Non-cognitive Skills," IZA Discussion Papers 15318, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15318
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    Cited by:

    1. Giorgio Brunello & Piero Esposito & Lorenzo Rocco & Sergio Scicchitano, "undated". "Do Classical Studies Open your Mind?," "Marco Fanno" Working Papers 0312, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche "Marco Fanno".
    2. Lorenzo Cappellari & Daniele Checchi & Marco Ovidi, 2022. "The effects of schooling on cognitive skills: evidence from education expansions," DISCE - Working Papers del Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza def122, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimenti e Istituti di Scienze Economiche (DISCE).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    secondary schooling; regression discontinuity; non-cognitive skills;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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