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  3. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
  4. January 2023
  5. High School Majors and Future Earnings

High School Majors and Future Earnings

  • Gordon B. Dahl
  • Dan-Olof Rooth
  • Anders Stenberg
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
vol. 15, no. 1, January 2023
(pp. 351-82)
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Abstract

We study how high school majors affect adult earnings using a regression discontinuity design. In Sweden students are admitted to majors in tenth grade based on their preference rankings and ninth grade GPA. We find engineering, natural science, and business majors yield higher earnings than social science and humanities, with major-specific returns also varying based on next-best alternatives. There is either a zero or a negative return to completing an academic program for students with a second-best nonacademic major. Most of the differences in adult earnings can be attributed to differences in occupation, and to a lesser extent, college major.

Citation

Dahl, Gordon B., Dan-Olof Rooth, and Anders Stenberg. 2023. "High School Majors and Future Earnings." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 15 (1): 351-82. DOI: 10.1257/app.20210292

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • I21 Analysis of Education
  • I26 Returns to Education
  • J24 Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
  • J31 Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
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