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The Role of Beyond-Secondary Levels of Education in Explaining Wage Differentials Across the Philippine Wage Distribution

Author

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  • Tomaliwan Maria Francesca

    (Department of Economics, 63148 De La Salle University , Manila, Philippines)

  • Sauler Mariel Monica

    (Department of Economics, 63148 De La Salle University , Manila, Philippines)

Abstract

The K-12 curriculum was implemented in the Philippines in 2013 and took effect in 2015. Despite the additional 2 years of secondary education, recent studies show a decline in returns to higher education in the country. This paper aims to identify the role of beyond-secondary education in explaining wage differentials before and during the implementation of the K-12 curriculum. We also analyze specific levels of beyond-secondary educational attainment and determine if their contribution to wage differentials applies to low-wage or high-wage workers. Using the Unconditional Quantile Regression and Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique, results reveal that returns to post-secondary graduate (Certificate and Associate’s degree) and college graduate (Bachelor’s degree) educational levels contributed to the reduction of wage gains between 2015 and 2019. Specifically, this applies more to low-wage female and low-to relatively high-wage male workers. This implies that despite higher household investments in higher education, lower real wage growth reduced the expected benefits. Further findings from the selectivity-corrected conditional regression confirm a decrease in estimates for beyond-secondary educational attainments between 2015 and 2019.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomaliwan Maria Francesca & Sauler Mariel Monica, 2026. "The Role of Beyond-Secondary Levels of Education in Explaining Wage Differentials Across the Philippine Wage Distribution," Statistics, Politics and Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 17(1), pages 43-88.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:statpp:v:17:y:2026:i:1:p:43-88:n:1005
    DOI: 10.1515/spp-2025-0045
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    Cited by:

    1. Wagschal Uwe & Reinbold Judith & Schleehauf Ronald, 2026. "Editors’ Note," Statistics, Politics and Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 17(1), pages 1-3.

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