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Estimating the return to college in Britain using regression and propensity score matching

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  • Wen Fan

Abstract

College graduates tend to earn more than non-graduates but it is difficult to ascertain how much of this empirical association between wages and college degree is due to the causal effect of a college degree and how much is due to unobserved factors that influence both wages and education (e.g. ability). In this paper, I use the 1970 British Cohort Study to examine the college premium for people who have a similar ability level by using a restricted sample of people who are all college eligible but some never attend. Compared to using the full sample, restricting the sample to college-eligible reduces the return to college significantly using both regression and propensity score matching (PSM) estimates. The finding suggests the importance of comparing individuals of similar ability levels when estimating the return to college.

Suggested Citation

  • Wen Fan, 2011. "Estimating the return to college in Britain using regression and propensity score matching," Working Papers 201119, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucn:wpaper:201119
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10197/3234
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ian Walker & Yu Zhu, 2008. "The College Wage Premium and the Expansion of Higher Education in the UK," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 110(4), pages 695-709, December.
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    5. Vincenzo Caponi & Miana Plesca, 2009. "Post-secondary education in Canada: can ability bias explain the earnings gap between college and university graduates?," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 42(3), pages 1100-1131, August.
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    11. Christopher R. Taber, 2001. "The Rising College Premium in the Eighties: Return to College or Return to Unobserved Ability?," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 68(3), pages 665-691.
    12. Jeff Grogger & Eric Eide, 1995. "Changes in College Skills and the Rise in the College Wage Premium," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 30(2), pages 280-310.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Return to college; Regression; Propensity score matching; Wages--College graduates--Great Britain; Wages--Effect of education on--Great Britain; Regression analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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