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Returns to Education: The Roles of Income, Gender, and Occupations

Author

Listed:
  • Siyu Wang
  • Hui Xu
  • Meng Shen
  • Delong Meng

Abstract

This study explores how broader educational returns information shapes students' aspirations, focusing on gender-specific income differences and occupational education requirements. Our experiment with 582 middle school students in northeast China shows that occupational information motivates students to set higher short- and long-term educational goals. However, gender-specific income information had differing effects: Male students raised their aspirations, while female students did not. Additionally, occupational information influenced male and female students differently, driven more by biased perceptions of educational requirements than occupational preferences. These findings highlight the importance of addressing tangible returns, occupational preferences, and perceptions to support informed educational decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Siyu Wang & Hui Xu & Meng Shen & Delong Meng, 2025. "Returns to Education: The Roles of Income, Gender, and Occupations," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 115, pages 664-668, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:apandp:v:115:y:2025:p:664-68
    DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20251095
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • P36 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty

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