The Returns to Higher Education in Britain: Evidence From a British Cohort

(2000) - Richard Blundell, Lorraine Dearden, Alissa Goodman, Howard Reed

Journal: The Economic Journal
Link:: https://academic.oup.com/ej/article/110/461/F82-F99/5140022
DOI:: 10.1111/1468-0297.00508
Links::
Tags:: #paper #NCDS #Attainment
Cite Key:: [@Blundell2000]

Abstract

We use British birth cohort panel data to examine the impact that degree level qualiÆcations and other higher education qualiÆcations have on the earnings of individuals in the medium to longer term. We compare the outcomes of these individuals with those of individuals who had the prospect of undertaking Higher Education but chose not to. Our approach involves `matching' these individuals according to observed characteristics which we have in the data such as ability, family background and demographics and then comparing outcomes between individuals who proved to HE and otherwise identical individuals who had the opportunity but did not.

Notes

“None the less, it is clear that the returns appear substantial even when controlling for other factors. The returns to higher degrees and non-degree HE courses were generally lower than those to undergraduate degrees, but still statistically signiÆcant” (Blundell et al., 2000, p. 97)