Labor-Market Returns to the GED Using Regression Discontinuity Analysis

Peter Mueser, Christopher Jepsen and Kenneth Troske

No 1014, Working Papers from Department of Economics, University of Missouri

Abstract: In this paper, we evaluate the labor-market returns to General Educational Development (GED) certification using Missouri 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: Regression discontinuity; Program evaluation; GED (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C26 H43 I21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 44 pages
Date: 2010-11-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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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 (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:umc:wpaper:1014

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