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Are OLS Estimates of the Return to Schooling Biased Downward? Another Look

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  • Blackburn, McKinley L
  • Neumark, David

Abstract

The authors examine evidence on bias in OLS estimates of the economic return to schooling. To study omitted-ability bias, they use test scores available in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth as proxies for ability allowing for measurement error in these test scores. The authors also explore biases from the endogeneity of schooling or experience, or measurement error in these variables. In their data, OLS estimation including test scores appears to be appropriate and indicates an upward bias of roughly 40 percent in the OLS estimate ignoring ability. This contrasts with evidence from other recent research using different statistical experiments to purge schooling of its correlation with the wage equation error. Copyright 1995 by MIT Press.

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  • Blackburn, McKinley L & Neumark, David, 1995. "Are OLS Estimates of the Return to Schooling Biased Downward? Another Look," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 77(2), pages 217-230, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:77:y:1995:i:2:p:217-30
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    1. Jacob A. Mincer, 1974. "Schooling and Earnings," NBER Chapters, in: Schooling, Experience, and Earnings, pages 41-63, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Jacob A. Mincer, 1974. "Schooling, Experience, and Earnings," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number minc74-1, May.
    3. Behrman, Jere R & Rosenzweig, Mark R & Taubman, Paul, 1994. "Endowments and the Allocation of Schooling in the Family and in the Marriage Market: The Twins Experiment," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 102(6), pages 1131-1174, December.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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