Publication Date
2022
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
First Advisor
Virginia, Wilcox V.
Degree Name
Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
Legacy Department
Department of Economics
Abstract
This research explores the causal effects of labor market conditions on college enrollment and attainment of high school graduates and answers the following questions: Does leaving high school in unfavorable labor market conditions cause a higher probability of college enrollment? Is this effect different between gender and across racial/ethnic groups? Does this effect vary regarding cognitive ability? Does this effect change over cohorts/generations? And does the positive effect on college enrollment in the short run translate into a positive effect on college degree attainment later?
The analysis that uses the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) data suggests that unfavorable labor market conditions at the time of leaving high school increase college enrollment one year after high school. The analysis that uses the Current Population Survey (CPS) data shows this effect has varied significantly over cohorts/generations of the past 40 years. The empirical results from analyzing the NLSY97 also indicate that the positive impact on college enrollment in the short run also translates into positive effects on achieving more educational attainment, either in terms of completing more years of college or attaining a college degree six years after high school. Overall, these effects are not strongly heterogeneous between the sexes; however, these effects are highly disproportional across race/ethnicity and ability subgroups.
Recommended Citation
Jiang, Dezhi, "Three Essays Examining The Effects of Labor Market Conditions on College Enrollment and Completion" (2022). Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations. 7229.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allgraduate-thesesdissertations/7229
Extent
139 pages
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.
Media Type
Text
