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México: Evolution of earnings inequality and rates of returns to education (1988-2002)

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  • Gladys López-Acevedo

    (Banco Mundial)

Abstract

This paper reviews the factors and mechanisms that have been driving inequality in Mexico and finds that educational inequality accounts for by far the largest share of Mexico’s variation in earnings inequality. The contribution of inequality of education to inequality of earnings in Mexico is the second highest in Latin America after Brazil. The increase in earnings inequality, however, does not appear to be the result of a worsening in the distribution of education, although the income profile, which is related to the returns to schooling, has become much steeper.

Suggested Citation

  • Gladys López-Acevedo, 2004. "México: Evolution of earnings inequality and rates of returns to education (1988-2002)," Estudios Económicos, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos, vol. 19(2), pages 211-284.
  • Handle: RePEc:emx:esteco:v:19:y:2004:i:2:p:211-284
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    File URL: https://estudioseconomicos.colmex.mx/index.php/economicos/article/view/172/174
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Raymundo M. Campos-Vázquez & Nora Lustig & John Scott, 2018. "Inequality in Mexico: Labour markets and fiscal redistribution 1989-2014," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2018-188, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Villarreal, Hector J. & Mehta, Aashish, 2005. "Inequality and Heterogeneous Returns to Education in Mexico (1992-2002)," Proceedings of the German Development Economics Conference, Kiel 2005 34, Verein für Socialpolitik, Research Committee Development Economics.
    3. Douglas McKee & Petra E. Todd, 2011. "The longer-term effects of human capital enrichment programs on poverty and inequality : Oportunidades in Mexico," Estudios de Economia, University of Chile, Department of Economics, vol. 38(1 Year 20), pages 67-100, June.
    4. Raymundo Campos-Vázquez & Nora Lustig & John Scott, 2018. "Inequality in Mexico: Labour markets and fiscal redistribution 1989–2014," WIDER Working Paper Series 188, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Austria Carlos, Marco Antonio & Venegas-Martínez, Francisco, 2011. "Rendimientos privados de la educación superior en México en 2006. Un modelo de corrección del sesgo por autoselección," El Trimestre Económico, Fondo de Cultura Económica, vol. 0(310), pages 441-468, abril-jun.
    6. Fernando Barceinas & José Luis Raymond, 2005. "Convergencia regional y capital humano en México, de los años 80 al 2002," Estudios Económicos, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos, vol. 20(2), pages 263-304.

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