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Wage elasticity of the teacher supply in Switzerland

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  • Stefan C. Wolter
  • Stefan Denzler

Abstract

In order to learn more about the teacher supply in Switzerland, this paper analyses eleven surveys of graduates of all Swiss universities for the period of 1981-2001. We estimate wages for teachers and non-teachers with the help of selection models. The predicted individual wage differentials between teaching and all other jobs indicate a positive self-selection of teachers into teaching. Furthermore the reaction of teachers supply on the wage differential shows a wage elasticity of 0.41. As in other studies, the wage differential is counter cyclical, due to the static wage setting of the public. As a consequence, the public sector itself is creating at least a part of the cyclical pattern of teacher shortages and oversupplies.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan C. Wolter & Stefan Denzler, 2004. "Wage elasticity of the teacher supply in Switzerland," Brussels Economic Review, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles, vol. 47(3-4), pages 387-408.
  • Handle: RePEc:bxr:bxrceb:y:2004:v:47:i:3-4:p:387-407
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Varga, Júlia, 2013. "A közalkalmazotti béremelés hatása a tanárok pályaelhagyási döntéseire [The effect of a public-sector pay increase on teachers attrition]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(5), pages 579-600.
    2. Pavel V. Derkachev, 2015. "Where is a Teacher Happy in Russia? Indicators of Teachers’ Salaries," HSE Working papers WP BRP 28/PA/2015, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    3. Varga, Júlia, 2007. "Kiből lesz ma tanár?. A tanári pálya választásának empirikus elemzése [Who becomes a teacher today?. An empirical analysis of choosing the teaching profession]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(7), pages 609-627.
    4. Stefan C. Wolter & Stefan Denzler & Bernhard A. Weber, 2003. "Betrachtungen zum Arbeitsmarkt der Lehrer in der Schweiz," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 72(2), pages 305-319.
    5. Denzler, Stefan & Wolter, Stefan C., 2008. "Self-Selection into Teaching: The Role of Teacher Education Institutions," IZA Discussion Papers 3505, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Machin Stephen & Puhani Patrick A., 2005. "Special Issue on the Economics of Education – Policies and Empirical Evidence: Editorial," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 6(3), pages 259-267, August.
    7. Hof, Stefanie & Strupler Leiser, Mirjam & Wolter, Stefan C., 2011. "Career Changers in Teaching Jobs: A Case Study Based on the Swiss Vocational Education System," IZA Discussion Papers 5806, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Julia Varga, 2017. "The Effects of Policies Concerning Teachers’ Wages on Students’ Performance," Budapest Working Papers on the Labour Market 1701, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    9. Stefanie Hof & Mirjam Strupler & Stefan C. Wolter, 2011. "Quereinsteiger in den Lehrberuf am Beispiel der schweizerischen Berufsbildung," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0059, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).
    10. Stefan Denzler & Stefan C. Wolter, 2009. "Laufbahnentscheide im Lehrberuf aus bildungsoekonomischer Sicht," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0041, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    wage elasticity; labour supply; teachers; university graduates; Switzerland.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J45 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Public Sector Labor Markets

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