Labor Market Returns to the GED Using Regression Discontinuity Analysis

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Jepsen, Christopher; Mueser, Peter; Troske, Kenneth
• 署名单位: University College Dublin; IZA Institute Labor Economics; University of Missouri System; University of Missouri Columbia; University of Kentucky
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-3808
• DOI: 10.1086/686245
• 发表日期: 2016
• 页码: 621-649
• 关键词: high-school; SIGNALING VALUE; DESIGN; benefits

摘要

We evaluate returns to General Educational Development (GED) certification for high school dropouts using state administrative data. We apply a fuzzy regression discontinuity method to account for test takers retaking the test. For women we find that GED certification has no statistically significant effect on either employment or earnings. For men we find a significant increase in earnings in the second year after taking the test but no impact in subsequent years. GED certification increases postsecondary school enrollment by 4-8 percentage points. Our results differ from regression discontinuity approaches that fail to account for test retaking.