On the cyclicality of schooling: Theory and evidence

Harris Dellas and Plutarchos Sakellaris ()

No 1997002, Discussion Papers (IRES - Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales) from Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES)

Abstract: Economic theory indicates that opportunity-cost considerations tend to make schooling countercyclical whereas ability-to-pay considerations have the opposite effect. We examine the college enrollment decisions of individuals using the Current Population Survey and find that their propensity to enroll is countercyclical. There seems to be significant substitution during the business cycle between human capital investment and competing economic activities. The decision to enroll in college is related strongly to labor market conditions (measured by the state-level unemployment rate and earnings) and to the real interest rate. Furthermore, there are significant differences across demographic groups.

JEL-codes: E32 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1996-09-01
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Journal Article: On the cyclicality of schooling: theory and evidence (2003)
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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ctl:louvir:1997002

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