Education and Earnings in Arkansas

Harry Anthony Patrinos () and Angelica Rivera-Olvera ()
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Harry Anthony Patrinos: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Angelica Rivera-Olvera: World Bank

No 17963, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper presents the first analysis for Arkansas using 2024 CPS data to examine education's impact on earnings and returns to investment. Average returns are 7.7%, higher for women (9%). University education yields even more: 8.8% overall, 8.1% for men, and 10.8% for women. With full discounting, private returns are 11.5% and social returns 6.6%, suggesting social benefits may be undervalued. The key takeaway is that investing in better and broader access to education offers strong individual and societal returns, making it one of the most effective ways to boost economic outcomes.

Keywords: returns to education; human capital; wage differentials; earnings function; Arkansas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I26 J24 J31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-06
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