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Is there a Causal Effect of High School Math on Labor Market Outcomes?

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Author Info
Juanna Schrøter Joensen
Helena Skyt Nielsen () (School of Economics and Management, University of Aarhus, Denmark)

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Abstract

Outsourcing of jobs to low-wage countries has increased the focus on the accumulation of skills - such as Math skills - in high-wage countries. In this paper, we exploit a high school pilot scheme to identify the causal effect of advanced high school Math on labor market outcomes. The pilot scheme reduced the costs of choosing advanced Math because it allowed for at more flexible combination of Math with other courses. We find clear evidence of a causal relationship between Math and earnings for the students who are induced to choose Math after being exposed to the pilot scheme. The effect partly stems from the fact that these students end up with higher education.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by School of Economics and Management, University of Aarhus in its series Economics Working Papers with number 2006-11.

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Length: 42
Date of creation: 03 Oct 2006
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Handle: RePEc:aah:aarhec:2006-11

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Web page: http://www.econ.au.dk/afn/

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Related research
Keywords: Math; High School Curriculum; Instrumental Variable; Local Average Treatment Effect.;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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