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School starting age and the gender pay gap over the life cycle

Author

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  • Cygan-Rehm, Kamila
  • Westphal, Matthias

Abstract

This paper replicates and extends the evidence on the lifetime effects of school starting age on earnings by Fredriksson and Öckert (2014) for Sweden. Using German data for individuals born between 1945 and 1965, we examine a more rigid system of ability tracking in secondary education, a potential driver of longterm effects. We confirm negligible effects of later school entry for men and positive effects for women. These gender differences arise despite similar effects on educational attainment. By unfolding the gender gaps over the lifecycle and assessing fertility directly, delaying motherhood seems a plausible mechanism behind the results.

Suggested Citation

  • Cygan-Rehm, Kamila & Westphal, Matthias, 2024. "School starting age and the gender pay gap over the life cycle," Ruhr Economic Papers 1115, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:rwirep:308808
    DOI: 10.4419/96973293
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    Cited by:

    1. Mariagrazia Cavallo & Elizabeth Dhuey & Luca Fumarco & Levi Halewyck & Simon ter Meulen, 2026. "The Economics of Age at School Entry: Insights from Evidence and Methods," CESifo Working Paper Series 12545, CESifo.
    2. Krumme, Anna & Westphal, Matthias, 2024. "Monetary returns to upper secondary schooling, the evolution of unobserved heterogeneity, and implications for employer learning," Ruhr Economic Papers 1130, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    3. Krumme, Anna & Westphal, Matthias, 2026. "Is academic-track schooling worthwhile without college? Decomposing monetary returns to education," Ruhr Economic Papers 1197, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education

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