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The Impact of University Reputation on Employment Opportunities: Experimental Evidence from Bolivia

Author

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  • Urquidi, Manuel
  • Nogales, Ricardo
  • Córdova, Pamela

Abstract

El acceso a las universidades está aumentando, especialmente en los países emergentes, lo que tiene el potencial de mejorar las perspectivas de oportunidades de empleo y desarrollo humano. Sin embargo, se observa que los mecanismos de transición de la universidad al trabajo son complejos debido a las fricciones informativas. Las percepciones e interpretaciones de los reclutadores sobre las credenciales educativas observables de los solicitantes, desempeñan un papel crucial en los procesos de selección y emparejamiento de la mano de obra. Estas percepciones están estrechamente vinculadas a la reputación de la universidad, lo cual crea expectativas en la mente de los reclutadores sobre el rendimiento de los candidatos en el lugar de trabajo y, por lo tanto, afectan de forma crítica sus elecciones. En el presente documento lo demostramos empíricamente basándonos en un experimento de correspondencia de dos ramas en Bolivia. Enviamos 2.848 currículos ficticios a 1.424 empresas formales de las tres principales zonas urbanas de Bolivia, solicitando una pasantía y descubrimos una gran prima de reputación universitaria: los solicitantes procedentes de universidades bien valoradas desde el punto de vista de los reclutadores tienen alrededor de 40% más de probabilidades de recibir una respuesta positiva, es decir, 2,25 puntos porcentuales de ventaja con respecto a una probabilidad de base del 7,87%. En estas circunstancias, un título universitario se convierte en un activo necesario pero insuficiente para conseguir un empleo de calidad.

Suggested Citation

  • Urquidi, Manuel & Nogales, Ricardo & Córdova, Pamela, 2020. "The Impact of University Reputation on Employment Opportunities: Experimental Evidence from Bolivia," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 10803, Inter-American Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:idb:brikps:10803
    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0002822
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    1. Giovanni Schettino & Leda Marino & Vincenza Capone, 2022. "The Impact of University-Related Variables on Students’ Perceived Employability and Mental Well-Being: An Italian Longitudinal Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-15, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bolivia; University reputation; employment opportunities; correspondenceexperiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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