Microeconometric Methods for the Estimation of Heterogeneous Returns to Schooling

Microeconometric Methods for the Estimation of Heterogeneous Returns to Schooling

Conventional empirical studies on the returns to schooling assume that the return for an additional year of schooling is the same across individuals. In this project we relaxed this assumption by developing and applying new microeconometric methods that account for heterogeneous returns to schooling and identify the causal effects of schooling. Policy measures that change the individual´s cost of schooling lead to a change in the composition of individuals who invest in schooling. Hence we developed microeconometric tools to identify the causal effects of these policy measures. According to our studies the average returns to education is 6 percent in Germany, with a slightly increasing tendency in recent years. The project was part of the DFG research group on Heterogeneous Labour: Positive and Normative Aspects of the Skill Structure of Labor a cooperation of the University of Konstanz and the ZEW Mannheim. Three students finished their PhD thesis in the project (Anton Flossmann, Markus Jochmann, Michael Maier).

Project members

Winfried Pohlmeier

Winfried Pohlmeier

Project Coordinator
Research Fellow

To the profile
Friedhelm Pfeiffer

Friedhelm Pfeiffer

Project Coordinator
Deputy

To the profile
Michael Lechner

Michael Lechner

Research Associate

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Client/Allowance
Cooperation partner
University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, CH // London School of Economics // Université Catholique Louvain

Selected Publications

Assessing Intergenerational Earnings Persistence Among German Workers

Eisenhauer, Philipp and Friedhelm Pfeiffer (2008), Assessing Intergenerational Earnings Persistence Among German Workers, Journal for Labour Market Research 2&3 , 119-137

Rising Wage Inequality in Germany

Gernandt, Johannes and Friedhelm Pfeiffer (2007), Rising Wage Inequality in Germany, Journal of Economics and Statistics/ Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik 227 (4) , 358-380

Selbständigkeit in Europa 1991 - 2003: Empirische Evidenz mit Länderdaten

Göggel, Kathrin, Friedhelm Pfeiffer and Johannes Gräb (2007), Selbständigkeit in Europa 1991 - 2003: Empirische Evidenz mit Länderdaten, Journal of Economics and Statistics/ Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik 227/2 , 153-167

Abschreibungsraten allgemeiner und beruflicher Ausbildungsinhalte. Empirische Evidenz auf Basis subjektiver Einschätzungen

Ludwig, Volker and Friedhelm Pfeiffer (2006), Abschreibungsraten allgemeiner und beruflicher Ausbildungsinhalte. Empirische Evidenz auf Basis subjektiver Einschätzungen, Journal of Economics and Statistics/ Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik 226 (3) , 260-284

Selektivität und direkte Wirkungen von Vermittlungsgutscheinen: Empirische Befunde aus der Einführungsphase

Pfeiffer, Friedhelm and Henrik Winterhager (2006), Selektivität und direkte Wirkungen von Vermittlungsgutscheinen: Empirische Befunde aus der Einführungsphase, Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik 7 (3) , 399-419

Vermittlungsgutscheine und Beauftragungen Dritter im Vergleich

Pfeiffer, Friedhelm and Henrik Winterhager (2006), Vermittlungsgutscheine und Beauftragungen Dritter im Vergleich, Journal for Labour Market Research 39 (3&4) , 425-445

Causal Returns to education: A Survey on Empirical Evidence for Germany

Flossmann, Anton and Winfried Pohlmeier (2006), Causal Returns to education: A Survey on Empirical Evidence for Germany, Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik 226 (1) , 6-23

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