Effects of Adult Education Vouchers on the Labor Market: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment

Guido Schwerdt, Dolores Messer (), Ludger Woessmann and Stefan Wolter
Additional contact information
Dolores Messer: University of Bern

No 5431, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Lifelong learning is often promoted in ageing societies, but little is known about its returns or governments' ability to advance it. This paper evaluates the effects of a large-scale randomized field experiment issuing vouchers for adult education in Switzerland. We find no significant average effects of voucher-induced adult education on earnings, employment, and subsequent education one year after treatment. But effects are heterogeneous: Low- education individuals are most likely to profit from adult education, but least likely to use the voucher. The findings cast doubt on the effectiveness of existing untargeted voucher programs in promoting labor market outcomes through adult education.

Keywords: LATE; adult education; voucher; field experiment; Switzerland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 H43 I22 J24 M53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 36 pages
Date: 2011-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

Published - published in: Journal of Public Economics, 2012, 96 (7-8), 569-583

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Working Paper: Effects of Adult Education Vouchers on the Labor Market: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment (2011)
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