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Earnings Dispersion, Risk Aversion and Education

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Author Info
Christian Belzil ()
Jörgen Hansen ()

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Abstract

We estimate a dynamic programming model of schooling decisions in which the degree of risk aversion can be inferred from schooling decisions. In our model, individuals are heterogeneous with respect to school and market abilities but homogeneous with respect to the degree of risk aversion. We allow endogenous schooling attainments to affect the level of risk experienced in labor market earnings through wage dispersion and employment rate dispersion. We find a low degree of relative risk aversion (0.9282) and the estimates indicate that both wage and employment rate dispersions decrease significantly with schooling attainments. We find that a counterfactual increase in risk aversion will increase schooling attainments. Finally, the low degree of risk aversion implies that an increase in earnings dispersion would have little effect on schooling attainments.

Nous estimons un modèle de programmation dynamique des choix d'éducation dans lequel le degré d'aversion au risque peut être estimé à partir des choix de scolarisation. Dans notre modèle, les individus sont hétérogènes quant à leurs capacités scolaires et aptitudes sur le marché de l'emploi, mais homogènes en ce qui concerne le degré d'aversion au risque. Nous laissons les niveaux scolaires endogènes influencer le niveau de risque concernant les revenus d'emploi, et ce, à travers la dispersion des salaires et la dispersion du taux d'emploi. Nous trouvons un faible degré d'aversion relative au risque (0,9282) et nos résultats indiquent que les taux de dispersion, aussi bien pour le salaire que pour le taux d'emploi, diminuent de façon significative avec le niveau de scolarisation. Nous trouvons qu'une augmentation contrefactuelle de l'aversion au risque va faire augmenter le niveau de scolarité atteint. Finalement, un niveau faible d'aversion au risque implique qu'une augmentation de la dispersion des revenus aurait peu d'impact sur le niveau de scolarisation.

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Paper provided by CIRANO in its series CIRANO Working Papers with number 2002s-20.

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Date of creation: 01 Feb 2002
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Handle: RePEc:cir:cirwor:2002s-20

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Related research
Keywords: Dynamic Programming; Returns to Education; Risk Aversion; Human Capital; Earnings Dispersion; Programmation dynamique; Rendements de l'éducation; Aversion au risque; Capital humain; Dispersion des revenus;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs

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  8. Christian Belzil & Jörgen Hansen, 2004. "A Structural Analysis of the Correlated Random Coefficient Wage Regression Model," Working Papers 0405, Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique (GATE), Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), Université Lyon 2, Ecole Normale Supérieure. [Downloadable!]
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Sarah Brown & Karl Taylor, 2006. "Education, Risk Preference and Wages," Working Papers 2006002, The University of Sheffield, Department of Economics, revised Feb 2006. [Downloadable!]
  2. Joop Hartog & Hans van Ophem & Simona Maria Bajdechi, 2004. "How Risky is Investment in Human Capital?," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 04-080/3, Tinbergen Institute. [Downloadable!]
  3. Diaz-Serrano, Luis & Hartog, Joop & Nielsen, Helena Skyt, 2003. "Compensating Wage Differentials for Schooling Risk in Denmark," IZA Discussion Papers 963, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  4. Joop Hartog & Luis Diaz-Serrano, 2004. "Earnings Risk And Demand For Higher Education: A Cross-Section Test For Spain," Economics, Finance and Accounting Department Working Paper Series n1370804, Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting, National University of Ireland - Maynooth. [Downloadable!]
  5. Luis Diaz-Serrano & J. Hartog, 2004. "Is there a Risk-Return Trade-off across Occupations? Evidence from Spain," Economics, Finance and Accounting Department Working Paper Series n1441004, Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting, National University of Ireland - Maynooth. [Downloadable!]
  6. Thomas Brodaty & Robert Gary-Bobo & Ana Prieto, 2006. "Risk Aversion and Human Capital Investment: a Structural Econometric Model," THEMA Working Papers 2006-06, THEMA (THéorie Economique, Modélisation et Applications), Université de Cergy-Pontoise. [Downloadable!]
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  7. Diaz-Serrano, Luis & Hartog, Joop, 2004. "Is There a Risk-Return Trade-Off across Occupations? Evidence from Spain," IZA Discussion Papers 1355, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
  8. Bas Jacobs, 2007. "Real Options and Human Capital Investment," CESifo Working Paper Series CESifo Working Paper No. , CESifo Group Munich. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  9. Vincent Hogan & Ian Walker, 2006. "Education Choice under Uncertainty - Implications for Public Policy," Working Papers 200615, School Of Economics, University College Dublin. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  10. Migali, Giuseppe, 2006. "Funding Higher Education and Wage Uncertainty : Income Contingent Loan versus Mortgage Loan," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 775, University of Warwick, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  11. Beffy, Magali & Fougère, Denis & Maurel, Arnaud, 2009. "Choosing the Field of Study in Post-Secondary Education: Do Expected Earnings Matter?," IZA Discussion Papers 4127, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
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