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

Author

Listed:
  • Bart K. de Koning

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

  • Robert Dur

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

  • Didier Fouarge

    (Maastricht University)

Abstract

In a natural field experiment, 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 students’ belief accuracy and leads them to change their preferred occupation to one with better labor market prospects. Administrative data covering up to seven years after our experiment shows that students who receive information choose and graduate from post-secondary education programs with better job opportunities and higher hourly wages.

Suggested Citation

  • Bart K. de Koning & Robert Dur & Didier Fouarge, 2026. "Correcting Beliefs about Job Opportunities and Wages: A Field Experiment on Education Choices," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 26-011/VII, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20260011
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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • 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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