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Correcting Beliefs About Job Opportunities and Wages: A Field Experiment on Education Choices

Author

Listed:
  • de Koning, Bart K.

    (Cornell University)

  • Fouarge, Didier

    (ROA, Maastricht University)

  • Dur, Robert

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Abstract

We run a field experiment in which we provide information to students about job opportunities and hourly wages of occupations they are interested in. The experiment takes place within a widely-used career orientation program in the Netherlands, and involves 28,186 pre-vocational secondary education students in 243 schools over two years. The information improves the accuracy of students' beliefs and leads them to change their preferred occupation to one with better labor market prospects. Administrative data that covers up to four years after the experiment shows that students choose (and remain in) post-secondary education programs with better job opportunities and higher hourly wages as a result of the information treatment.

Suggested Citation

  • de Koning, Bart K. & Fouarge, Didier & Dur, Robert, 2025. "Correcting Beliefs About Job Opportunities and Wages: A Field Experiment on Education Choices," IZA Discussion Papers 17951, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17951
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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