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Estimating the Effects of Length of Exposure to Training Program: The Case of Job Corps

Author

Listed:
  • Carlos A. Flores

    (Department of Economics, University of Miami)

  • Alfonso Flores-Lagunes

    (Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida and IZA, Bonn, Germany)

  • Arturo Gonzalez

    (Ernst & Young and IZA, Bonn, Germany)

  • Todd C. Neumann

    (School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts, University of California, Merced)

Abstract

Length of exposure to a training program is important in determining the labor market outcomes of participants. Employing methods to estimate the causal effects from continuous treatments, we provide insights regarding the effects of different lengths of enrollment to Job Corps (JC)— America's largest and most comprehensive job training program for disadvantaged youth. We semi parametrically estimate average causal effects (on the treated) of different lengths of exposure to JC, using the generalized propensity score's under the assumption that selection into different lengths is based on a rich set of observed covariates. “Placebo tests are performed to gauge the plausibility of this assumption. We find that the estimated effects are increasing in the length of training, and that the marginal effects of additional training are decreasing with length of enrollment. We also document differences in the estimated effects of length of exposure across different demographic groups, which are particularly large between males and females. Finally, our results suggest an important lock in effect in JC training.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos A. Flores & Alfonso Flores-Lagunes & Arturo Gonzalez & Todd C. Neumann, 2009. "Estimating the Effects of Length of Exposure to Training Program: The Case of Job Corps," Working Papers 2010-3, University of Miami, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mia:wpaper:2010-3
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Training Programs; Continuous Treatments; Generalized Propensity Score; Dose-Response Function;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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