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One Size Does Not Fit All: Multiple Dimensions of Ability, College Attendance, and Earnings

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  • María F. Prada
  • Sergio Urzúa

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of mechanical ability as a determinant of schooling decisions and labor market outcomes. Using a Roy model with multiple unobserved abilities and longitudinal data from NLSY79, we find that this ability has a positive effect on overall earnings. However, in contrast to cognitive and socioemotional abilities, mechanical ability reduces the likelihood of 4-year college attendance. The rationale for this asymmetry comes from its large estimated impact on earnings conditional on not attending a 4-year college. Our findings highlight the importance of moving beyond the one-size-fits-all discourse to offer individuals alternative educational pathways to successful careers.

Suggested Citation

  • María F. Prada & Sergio Urzúa, 2017. "One Size Does Not Fit All: Multiple Dimensions of Ability, College Attendance, and Earnings," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 35(4), pages 953-991.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/692477
    DOI: 10.1086/692477
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Michael J. Kottelenberg & Steven F. Lehrer, 2019. "How Skills and Parental Valuation of Education Influence Human Capital Acquisition and Early Labor Market Return to Human Capital in Canada," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 37(S2), pages 735-778.
    2. Isaac Baley & Ana Figueiredo & Robert Ulbricht, 2022. "Mismatch Cycles," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 130(11), pages 2943-2984.
    3. Papageorge, Nicholas & Ronda, Victor & Zheng, Yu, 2014. "The Economic Value of Breaking Bad: Misbehavior, Schooling and the Labor Market," Economics Working Paper Archive 64574, The Johns Hopkins University,Department of Economics, revised 16 Jun 2020.
    4. Chuan, Amanda & Zhang, Weilong, 2023. "Non-college Occupations, Workplace Routinization, and the Gender Gap in College Enrollment," IZA Discussion Papers 16089, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Anna Adamecz & Morag Henderson & Nikki Shure, 2024. "Intergenerational educational mobility – The role of non-cognitive skills," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(1), pages 59-78, January.
    6. Christian Belzil & Jörgen Hansen & Xingfei Liu, 2022. "The Evolution of Inequality in Education Trajectories and Graduation Outcomes in the US," Working Papers 2022-12, Center for Research in Economics and Statistics.
    7. Lenka Fiala & John Eric Humphries & Juanna Schrøter Joensen & Uditi Karna & John A. List & Gregory F. Veramendi, 2022. "How Early Adolescent Skills and Preferences Shape Economics Education Choices," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 112, pages 609-613, May.
    8. Michael J. Böhm, 2020. "The price of polarization: Estimating task prices under routine‐biased technical change," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 11(2), pages 761-799, May.
    9. Prada, Maria & Rucci, Graciana & Urzua, Sergio, 2019. "Training, Soft Skills and Productivity: Evidence from a Field Experiment," IZA Discussion Papers 12447, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Fernando Saltiel, 2019. "What's Math Got to Do With It? Multidimensional Ability and the Gender Gap in STEM," 2019 Meeting Papers 1201, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    11. Christian Belzil & Jörgen Hansen & Julie Pernaudet, 2024. "Les déterminants cognitifs et non-cognitifs du choix de filière et leur impact sur la phase initiale du cycle professionnel," CIRANO Project Reports 2024rp-06, CIRANO.
    12. Gabi Xuan Jiang, 2018. "Planting the Seeds for Success: Why Women in STEM Don't Stick in The Field," Purdue University Economics Working Papers 1307, Purdue University, Department of Economics.
    13. Böhm, Michael Johannes, 2017. "The Price of Polarization: Estimating Task Prices under Routine-Biased Technical Change," IZA Discussion Papers 11220, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    14. Jiang, Xuan, 2021. "Women in STEM: Ability, preference, and value," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    15. Mohitosh Kejriwal & Xiaoxiao Li & Evan Totty, 2020. "Multidimensional skills and the returns to schooling: Evidence from an interactive fixed‐effects approach and a linked survey‐administrative data set," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(5), pages 548-566, August.
    16. Mohitosh Kejriwal & Xiaoxiao Li & Evan Totty, 2019. "Multidemsional Skills and Returns to Schooling: Evidence from an Interactive Fixed Effects Aproach and a Linked Survey-Administrative Dataset," Purdue University Economics Working Papers 1316, Purdue University, Department of Economics.
    17. Chuan, A. & Zhang, W., 2021. "Non-College Occupations, Workplace Routinization, and the Gender Gap in College Enrollment," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2177, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    18. Krishnakumar, Jaya & Nogales, Ricardo, 2020. "Education, skills and a good job: A multidimensional econometric analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).

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