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Seminar

The Expected (Signaling) Value of Higher Education

  • Series
    Research on Monday
  • Speaker(s)
    Pia Pinger (University of Cologne, Germany)
  • Field
    Empirical Microeconomics
  • Location
    Erasmus University Rotterdam, Campus Woudestein, room M3-03
    Rotterdam
  • Date and time

    March 27, 2023
    11:30 - 12:30

Abstract

This paper explores students' expectations about the returns to completing higher education and provides first evidence on perceived signaling and human capital effects. We elicit counterfactual labor market expectations for the hypothetical scenarios of leaving university with or without a degree certificate among a large and diverse sample of students at different stages of higher education. Our findings indicate substantial expected labor market returns from signaling, whereas perceived productivity-enhancing (human capital) returns seem to be less pronounced. Over the expected course of career, we find lasting education premia as well as evidence consistent with employer learning.

(This is joint work with Laura Ehrmantraut and Renske Stans)