This paper surveys the empirical evidence on causal effects of education on earnings for Germany and compares alternative studies in the light of their underlying identifying assumptions. We work out the different assumptions taken by various studies, which lead to rather different interpretations of the estimated causal effect. In particular, we are interested in the question to what extend causal return estimates are informative regarding educational policy advice. Despite the substantial methodological differences, we have to conclude that the empirical findings for Germany are quite robust and do not deviate substantially from each other. This also holds for the few studies which rely on ignorability conditions, regardless of whether they use educational attainment as a continuous treatment variable or as a discrete treatment indicator. Own estimates based on the matching approach indicate that the selection into upper secondary schooling is suboptimal

September 20, 2016

Heterogeneous Returns to Training

An Analysis with German Data Using Local Instrumental Variables

Anja Kuckulenz, Michael Maier

Page range: 24-40

Abstract

Empirical work on the wage impact of training has noted that unobserved heterogeneity of training participants should play a role. The expected return to training, which partly depends on unobservable characteristics, is likely to be a crucial criterion in the decision to take part in training or not. We try to account for this fact by using recent advances in estimating returns to schooling, which allow for selection on unobservables, and apply it to estimating the impact of training on earnings. Allowing heterogeneity to be unobserved by the econometrician, but assuming that individuals may act upon this heterogeneity, completely changes the interpretation and properties of commonly used estimators. Our results based on local instrumental variables suggest that traditional estimates of the wage impact of training overestimate this effect.

September 20, 2016

Employment Protection: Its Effects on Different Skill Groups and on the Incentive to become Skilled

Nikolai Stähler

Page range: 41-54

Abstract

Employment protection affects labour market outcomes and hence the incentive to acquire skills. Using a matching model with two education levels in which workers decide ex-ante on their skill formation, it is shown that employment protection can raise the fraction of skilled workers. This will be the case if workers obtain a sufficiently large fraction of the rent created by skill formation. Furthermore, it will be shown that high-skilled workers face shorter unemployment duration and lower dismissal probabilities.

September 20, 2016

Training, Mobility, and Wages: Specific Versus General Human Capital

Alfred Garloff, Anja Kuckulenz

Page range: 55-81

Abstract

This paper considers training, mobility decisions and wages together to test for the specificity of human capital contained in continuing training courses. We empirically analyse the relationship between training, mobility and wages in two ways. First, we examine the correlation between training and mobility. In a second step, we consider wage effects of mobility taking training participation into account. First, we find that training participation is negatively correlated with the mobility decision and that training participation decreases the probability of individuals to change the job. Second, we find that wages are lower for job changers for the group of training participants, so wages decrease when trained individuals are mobile. Finally, training participation negatively affects the individuals’s subjective valuation of the quality of their last job change. Taken together, these results suggest that there is some specific human capital, which is incorporated into training and lost when moving between jobs.

September 20, 2016

A Duration Analysis of the Effects of Tuition Fees for Long-Term Students in Germany

Mathias Kifmann, Martin Heineck, Normann Lorenz

Page range: 82-112

Abstract

We examine the impact of tuition fees for long-term students at the University of Konstanz. Applying duration analysis to examine how tuition fees influence when and how students finish their studies in six different majors, we find significant effects with respect to the hazard rates of the various ways of terminating one’s studies. Furthermore, we analyze how the probability of terminating one’s studies in a certain period of time changes. Students obtain a degree in a shorter period of time in two majors. In three other majors, however, we observe that the probability of obtaining a degree generally decreased.

About this journal

The Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik) is a scientific journal published in Germany since 1863. The journal publishes papers in all fields of economics and applied statistics. A specific focus is on papers combining theory with empirical analyses. Papers providing conclusions for economic policy in Europe are particularly welcome. Nevertheless, distinguished papers dealing exlusively with economic theory, empirical models, or economic history, will not be excluded from consideration.

The editors invite replication studies focusing on the robustness of empirical findings. The section Data Observer presents articles on data sets available for empirical research and institutions providing research data. The journal also publishes special issues, short comments, and book reviews. All freely accessible contributions, including the Data Observer articles, can be found via the website's article search functionality.

Journal of Economics and Statistics now also at Twitter.

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Call for Papers

Special Issue on “Atypical Employment”

Guest editors: Regina T. Riphahn, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Conny Wunsch, Universität Basel

Timeline: Submission of full papers December 31, 2022

Further details

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Call for Papers

Special Issue on “Empirical Studies with Micro-Data from Official Statistics in Germany”

Guest editors: Thomas K. Bauer, Ruhr-University Bochum
Regina T. Riphahn, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
Joachim Wanger, Leuphana University Lüneburg

Timeline: Submission of full papers (extended deadline) November 30, 2022

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Volume 226 Issue 1

Issue of Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik

Titelei

Inhalt / Contents

Editorial

Causal Returns to Education

A Survey on Empirical Evidence for Germany

Abstract

Heterogeneous Returns to Training

An Analysis with German Data Using Local Instrumental Variables

Abstract

Employment Protection: Its Effects on Different Skill Groups and on the Incentive to become Skilled

Abstract

Training, Mobility, and Wages: Specific Versus General Human Capital

Abstract

A Duration Analysis of the Effects of Tuition Fees for Long-Term Students in Germany

Abstract