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Do Higher College Graduation Rates Increase Local Education Levels?

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  • John V. Winters

    (Oklahoma State University)

Abstract

College graduates are important for regional economies but also quite geographically mobile. This paper examines the relationship between college graduation rates among persons from a state (relative production) and the later share of college graduates for persons residing in the state (relative stock) using decennial census and American Community Survey microdata. The descriptive relationship has increased over time and is nearly proportional in recent years. Instrumental variables methods are used to estimate causal effects. The preferred IV results yield an average point estimate for the production-stock relationship of 0.52, but the effect likely decreases with age.

Suggested Citation

  • John V. Winters, 2015. "Do Higher College Graduation Rates Increase Local Education Levels?," Economics Working Paper Series 1503, Oklahoma State University, Department of Economics and Legal Studies in Business, revised Dec 2015.
    • Handle: RePEc:okl:wpaper:1503
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    File URL: https://business.okstate.edu/site-files/docs/ecls-working-papers/OKSWPS1503R1.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Heather M. Stephens, 2019. "Understanding US college graduate migration," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 509-531, December.
    2. Winters, John V., 2020. "Problem on the Plains: College Earnings Premiums in Small Metropolitan Areas," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 51(1), December.
    3. John V. Winters, 2022. "No Place Like Home: Place-Based Attachments and Regional Science," The Review of Regional Studies, Southern Regional Science Association, vol. 52(2), pages 159-175.
    4. Qiang Wang & Can Cui & Chengyuan Yu & Yifan Wang, 2023. "From Domicile to University to Work: The Sequential Migration of Young Educated People in the Context of the “Battle for Talent” in China," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(6), pages 1-26, December.
    5. John V. Winters, 2020. "In-State College Enrollment and Later Life Location Decisions," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 55(4), pages 1400-1426.
    6. John V. Winters, 2017. "Do Native STEM Graduates Increase Innovation? Evidence from U.S. Metropolitan Areas," Economics Working Paper Series 1714, Oklahoma State University, Department of Economics and Legal Studies in Business.
    7. repec:rre:publsh:v:52:y:2022:i:2 is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    college graduates; human capital; migration; higher education policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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