The Effects of Cognitive and Noncognitive Abilities on Labor Market Outcomes and Social Behavior

James Heckman, Jora Stixrud and Sergio Urzua
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Jora Stixrud: University of Chicago

Journal of Labor Economics, 2006, vol. 24, issue 3, 411-482

Abstract: This article establishes that a low-dimensional vector of cognitive and noncognitive skills explains a variety of labor market and behavioral outcomes. Our analysis addresses the problems of measurement error, imperfect proxies, and reverse causality that plague conventional studies. Noncognitive skills strongly influence schooling decisions and also affect wages, given schooling decisions. Schooling, employment, work experience, and choice of occupation are affected by latent noncognitive and cognitive skills. We show that the same low-dimensional vector of abilities that explains schooling choices, wages, employment, work experience, and choice of occupation explains a wide variety of risky behaviors.

Date: 2006
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Working Paper: The Effects of Cognitive and Noncognitive Abilities on Labor Market Outcomes and Social Behavior (2006)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ucp:jlabec:v:24:y:2006:i:3:p:411-482

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