This work analyzes the ability signaling hypothesis using a rich set of data of a homogeneous population -Business and Economics graduates of University X- who share similar occupations in the labor market. After studying three years of a common core curriculum, students must choose between either a Business or an Economics major. The work investigates if the choice of major is employed by the labor market as a signal of ability and of expected productivity, and if this is reflected in differences in the earnings profiles of graduates of each field. Given the detailed nature of the data, we employ an unusually rich measure of ability, namely the grades obtained in the core curriculum. This work presents multiple evidence in favor of this hypothesis. The evidence is based on seven empirical results, properly derived from a simple theoretical signaling model. The empirical facts support the sig-naling hypothesis under the assumption that an individual's ability is gradually revealed to the labor market as experience increases.
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Article provided by Ilades-Georgetown University, Economics Department in its journal Revista de Analisis Economico.
Volume (Year): 20 (2005) Issue (Month): 1 (June) Pages: 23-43 Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML,
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Find related papers by JEL classification: I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity C70 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - General D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information
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