Labor-Market Returns to the GED Using Regression Discontinuity Analysis

Christopher Jepsen, Peter Mueser and Kenneth Troske

No 6758, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We evaluate the labor-market returns to General Educational Development (GED) certification using state administrative data. We develop a fuzzy regression discontinuity (FRD) method to account for the fact that GED test takers can repeatedly retake the test until they pass it. Our technique can be applied to other situations where program participation is determined by a score on a "retake-able" test. Previous regression discontinuity estimates of the returns to GED certification have not accounted for retaking behavior, so these estimates may be biased. We find that the effect of GED certification on either employment or earnings is not statistically significant. GED certification increases postsecondary participation by up to four percentage points for men and up to eight percentage points for women.

Keywords: high school dropouts; GED (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 54 pages
Date: 2012-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab and nep-lma
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published - revision published in: Journal of Political Economy, 2016, 124 (3), 621-649

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Related works:
Journal Article: Labor Market Returns to the GED Using Regression Discontinuity Analysis (2016)
Working Paper: Labor-Market Returns to the GED Using Regression Discontinuity Analysis (2016)
Working Paper: Labor-Market Returns to the GED Using Regression Discontinuity Analysis (2010)
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