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Life After Debt: Postgraduation Consequences Of Federal Student Loans

Author

Listed:
  • Martin Gervais
  • Nicolas L. Ziebarth

Abstract

We estimate the causal effect of student loans on postgraduation labor market outcomes exploiting a kink in the formula determining eligibility for need‐based student loans. Using a representative sample of students graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1993, we find that student debt has nonnegative effects on earnings. This result holds with differing levels of statistical significance across a battery of different empirical designs: (1) ordinary least squares, (2) partially linear, and (3) regression kink. We find similar results for the 2008 graduating cohort. (JEL I22, I26, J32, J33)

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Gervais & Nicolas L. Ziebarth, 2019. "Life After Debt: Postgraduation Consequences Of Federal Student Loans," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 57(3), pages 1342-1366, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:57:y:2019:i:3:p:1342-1366
    DOI: 10.1111/ecin.12763
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    Cited by:

    1. Lisa J. Dettling & Sarena Goodman & Sarah Reber, 2022. "Saving and Wealth Accumulation among Student Loan Borrowers: Implications for Retirement Preparedness," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2022-019, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    2. Mi Luo & Simon Mongey, 2019. "Assets and Job Choice: Student Debt, Wages and Amenities," NBER Working Papers 25801, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Theresa Geißler, 2025. "Who bears the brunt: Tuition fees and educational mismatch," IAAEU Discussion Papers 202504, Institute of Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the European Union (IAAEU).
    4. Mi Luo & Simon Mongey, 2019. "Assets and Job Choice: Student Debt, Wages, and Job Satisfaction," 2019 Meeting Papers 1220, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    5. Maurice Shirley & Amanda Olsen & Sehee Kim & Michelle Dimino & Mehmet Kaplan, 2023. "Heading in the Right Direction? Examining the Relationship of Transfer Patterns and Income Status on College Student Outcomes," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 64(6), pages 808-833, September.
    6. Berrak Bahadir & Dora Gicheva, 2022. "Macroeconomic Implications of Student Debt: A State‐Level Analysis," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 54(8), pages 2273-2300, December.
    7. Ji, Yan, 2021. "Job Search under Debt: Aggregate Implications of Student Loans," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 741-759.
    8. Chu, Yu-Wei Luke & Cuffe, Harold E, 2020. "Do Struggling Students Benefit From Continued Student Loan Access? Evidence From University and Beyond," Working Paper Series 21067, Victoria University of Wellington, School of Economics and Finance.
    9. Binh Chi Bui, 2024. "How Debt and Attainment Relate through the GPA of Non-White College Students," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-18, August.
    10. Britton, Jack & Gruber, Jonathan, 2020. "Do income contingent student loans reduce labor supply?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    11. Wright, Nicholas A., 2021. "Need-based financing policies, college decision-making, and labor market behavior: Evidence from Jamaica," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    12. Katharine G. Abraham & Emel Filiz-Ozbay & Erkut Y. Ozbay & Lesley J. Turner, 2022. "Effects of the Menu of Loan Contracts on Borrower Behavior," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(1), pages 509-528, January.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions
    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods

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