Working Paper: NBER ID: w1420
Authors: Andrew Weiss
Abstract: Proprietary data for production workeis is analyzed to determine which aspects of productivity are affected by secondary schooling. The measures of productivity explored are: propensity to quit and be absent, phisical oatput per hour, and ability to perform complex tasks. The data suggests that the sorting effect of education is an important determinant of earnings for semi-skilled production workers.
Keywords: Education; Labor Economics; Productivity
JEL Codes: I21; J24
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| higher education (I23) | comparative advantage in performing complex tasks (F12) |
| higher education (I23) | lower propensity to quit (J26) |
| higher education (I23) | lower absenteeism (J22) |
| high school graduation (I23) | reduced likelihood of quitting (J26) |
| high school graduation (I23) | strong negative effect on absenteeism (J22) |
| high school graduation (I23) | wage premium (J31) |
| high school graduation (wage premium) (J31) | counter-cyclical effect (diminishing during high unemployment) (J64) |
| sorting of workers based on education (J24) | wage differentials (J31) |